Orioles lose 4-2 to Yankees on June 22, but a catcher crisis looms as Maverick Handley exits after a collision & Adley Rutschman's return is delayed.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day where the final score felt like a footnote. The Baltimore Orioles dropped their weekend series to the Yankees with a 4-2 loss on Sunday, but the real damage was inflicted behind the plate. A scary, violent collision forced catcher Maverick Handley from the game, and the news that followed—that star Adley Rutschman won't return until after the All-Star break—has plunged the Orioles into a full-blown crisis at their most important position.
It was described as one of the most forceful collisions since MLB's rule changes to protect catchers.
The game's most jarring moment came in the second inning. As Yankees speedster Jazz Chisholm Jr. raced home, he collided with Maverick Handley in a play that left the Orioles catcher down on the field. The impact was severe enough for Handley to be removed immediately for a 'full body' evaluation, including a concussion check. The play, described as one of the most forceful since catcher protection rules were implemented, forced a scheduled day-off for Gary Sanchez to be cut short as he was thrust into action.
The timing of Handley's injury couldn't be worse. Earlier in the day, interim manager Tony Mansolino delivered the grim news that All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman's recovery from a left oblique strain will keep him sidelined until after the All-Star break. What was once a manageable injury now looks like a long-term problem, putting immense pressure on the newly acquired Gary Sanchez to carry the load for the foreseeable future. The team's catching depth has evaporated in a single afternoon.
Amid the injury drama, a baseball game was lost. Starter Dean Kremer delivered a strong performance, holding the potent Yankees lineup to just one run over 5.2 innings while striking out seven. The O's even took an early 1-0 lead on a Ryan O'Hearn RBI single. But the bullpen couldn't hold on. A go-ahead two-run double by Jazz Chisholm in the seventh inning against Bryan Baker (who took the loss) and Felix Cruz (charged with the blown save) proved to be the difference, sealing the series win for New York.
The late-game struggles have prompted more changes. Following Saturday's loss, reliever Yennier Cano, a stalwart in 2024, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after a rough start to his season, with righty Yaramil Hiraldo getting the call-up. While the series loss stings, it's not all doom and gloom. The Orioles have shown significant improvement in June, playing much better baseball overall. Gunnar Henderson continues to be an on-base machine, drawing three walks Sunday, and the team is getting valuable contributions from its youth and unheralded pickups, a trend they'll need to continue to weather this storm.
Losing a series in the Bronx is always tough, but the Orioles leave New York with far bigger concerns than their win-loss record. All eyes will be on the health of Maverick Handley and the performance of Gary Sanchez, who now holds the fate of the pitching staff in his hands. The front office faces immense pressure to find catching depth, and the bullpen must find its footing fast. This team has shown resilience in June, but this is their biggest test yet.
