BALTIMORE—Shortstop Jorge Mateo, who left Wednesday’s game in Washington after he grounded out to end the second inning with right hip discomfort, said on Friday that he’s feeling better.
“I’m feeling all right,” Mateo said. “Been better … I’m going to be available from the bench, but probably tomorrow, 100 percent.”
Mateo said he was frightened when he pulled up short.
“I thought it was something painful, but now [it’s] better,” Mateo said. “It was something that I never felt before. It doesn’t bother me anymore.”
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Manager Brandon Hyde is hoping Mateo is available to play on Saturday.
“He feels a lot better today. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. The offday helped out,” Hyde said. “He’s been getting treatment for a couple of days and improving, so I would think it would be the next couple of days.
“I’m going to rely on our medical staff. He’s got a little bit of hip discomfort. I think that he feels confident that he feels OK, and he’ll be fine, so you definitely don’t want to see speed guys, anything happen with their legs or feet or whatever. I think he feels confident he feels OK.”
Gunnar Henderson will play shortstop instead of Mateo against the Tigers.
“I think he’s really comfortable at shortstop,” Hyde said. “I think he’s still learning third base. The way our team fits right now we’d like to see him in both those spots, like today when Mateo’s not playing.”
Henderson has made three errors in 12 games at third base and one in five games at shortstop.
“He’s got a chance to be a really, really good third baseman,” Hyde said. “He’s still learning the position. He grew up playing shortstop his whole life. Made a couple of mistakes [at third]. Speed-of-the-game mistakes. He adapts well. He understands.”
Postgame concerts: The Orioles will host three postgame concerts. Andy Grammar will perform after the May 27th game at Texas that begins at 4;05 p.m. Shaquille O’Neal, who performs under the name DJ Diesel, will take the stage after the June 30th game against Minnesota, and Brett Young will perform September 15th after the Orioles play Tampa Bay.
The June 30th and September 15th games begin at 7:05 p.m.
Fans buying tickets for the three games are invited to stay for the concerts. A limited number of field passes are also available at an additional cost.