BALTIMORE—Rest is important for Major League Baseball players, and those who aren’t participating in next week’s All-Star Game get the chance for four days without a game.
The Orioles close the first half of the season with an 11:35 a.m. game on Sunday against the New York Yankees and resume play on July 19th at Globe Life Park, the site of the All-Star Game.
Pitcher Corbin Burnes, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, catcher Adley Rutschman and third baseman Jordan Westburg will participate in next Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Burnes, who could be the starter for the American League, makes his final scheduled start before the break on Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs.
Henderson, Rutschman and Westburg are in the lineup. Henderson will play his 91st game. He’s missed only one. Rutschman will appear in his 86th, and Westburg in his 85th.
Manager Brandon Hyde, who’ll spend his All-Star break watching his son Colton play in a baseball tournament in Cobb County, Georgia, thinks rest is essential for the Orioles.
“It’s a really important time,” Hyde said. “Right now everybody has something. There’s some nicked up, maybe some more than others. You play this long into the season, and a lot of these guys have played every day, and there’s bumps and bruises and things that everybody’s kind of dealing with.
“To have a few days rest to physically get a little bit better, but also mentally. That might be even the bigger break that you need at this point … It comes at the right time. Hopefully, you can recharge your batteries for the second half.”
Hyde will hold an optional workout on July 18th in Texas the night before play resumes.