The Baltimore Orioles have been dealt a tough blow late in the season, losing two key contributors to the injured list. On Friday, the team officially placed infielder Jordan Westburg and starting pitcher Brandon Young on the IL, further testing the club’s depth as the playoff race heats up.
Westburg is battling a right ankle injury, while Young is sidelined with a left hamstring strain sustained during Thursday’s matchup against the Houston Astros. The injury occurred in the sixth inning when Young was covering first base, an unfortunate turn after what had been an encouraging outing.
Though the Orioles had initially hoped Westburg would avoid a stint on the IL, the 26-year-old third baseman has not played since leaving Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds due to ankle discomfort. Despite optimistic early evaluations, it became clear as the week progressed that Westburg wouldn’t be able to return in the short term, prompting the club to act cautiously.
This marks the second trip to the IL this season for Westburg, who previously dealt with a left hamstring strain in April—a setback that lingered into May. When healthy, Westburg has been one of the Orioles’ more consistent offensive pieces. In 73 games this season, he’s slashing .276/.326/.473 with an .799 OPS, 15 home runs, and 34 RBI. His absence is a tough one for an Orioles lineup already walking a tightrope between consistency and injury management.
On the pitching side, Brandon Young’s rookie campaign continues to be a challenging one. The 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 1-7 record with a 6.24 ERA over 12 starts, covering 57.2 innings. Despite the rough overall numbers, Young flashed his potential in a standout performance against Houston on August 15, when he delivered eight shutout innings, allowing just one hit.
Unfortunately, his latest setback will likely sideline him for an extended period. Interim manager Tony Mansolino confirmed that Young is unlikely to pitch again soon. While he will technically be eligible to return from the IL on September 6, his role upon reactivation remains uncertain. That’s largely because Kyle Bradish is expected to rejoin the starting rotation next week, which could complicate Young’s pathway back to meaningful innings.
To fill the vacancies left by Westburg and Young, the Orioles selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Matt Bowman and infielder Vimael Machin. Bowman brings veteran experience and bullpen versatility, while Machin will provide much-needed infield depth in Westburg’s absence.
With the postseason approaching and every game mattering more than the last, the Orioles will need to rely on their organizational depth to stay afloat. Losing a starting infielder and a rotation arm is never ideal, but Baltimore hopes these are temporary setbacks rather than long-term obstacles.
Fans will be watching closely to see how the team adapts—especially with Bradish’s return on the horizon and Westburg’s potential to rejoin the lineup if his recovery goes smoothly. For now, though, the Orioles must weather another injury storm.