Blaze Alexander’s season took an important turn Tuesday, and it had nothing to do with a box score.
The Orioles infielder, who has already handled seven positions this year, left the clubhouse in New York to fly to Arizona for the birth of his first child. Alexander is on the 10-day injured list with lower back discomfort, and he had only just started baseball activities on Monday. He remains eligible to come off the injured list on Saturday.
Manager Tony Albernaz made it clear where the priority sits.
“We’ll find out. We’ll find out,” Albernaz said.
“I’m pumped for Blaze. It’s awesome, first-time dad.”
Albernaz said Alexander got in a full session Monday before the sudden trip west.
“He hit in the cage, took some groundballs, threw. There was still some tightness and soreness,” Albernaz said.
“He’s doing everything he can to get back as soon as he can, but first things first. He has to go be a dad and be with his first child and enjoy it.
When he comes back, we’ll talk more, but he needs to go be a dad.”
Because Alexander isn’t on the active roster, the Orioles did not place him on the paternity list.
The Orioles also got a small update on another injured player Tuesday. Outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who is on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring injury, was eligible to return, but he has only just started baseball activities.
“We’ll see. Day-by-day with Luis,” Albernaz said.
“The hamstring is tough, especially with the type of game he plays, style of game and the position he plays. We want to make sure that it’s holding up in the right spot and he’s recovering in the right way.
I would love to have him back before the end of the year.”
With 11 games left, that timeline still looks shaky.
“We’re pumped to get Luis going with some baseball activities today,” Albernaz said.
As the Orioles prepared to face the Mets on Tuesday night, the bigger picture was impossible to ignore. Baltimore entered the game three games back of Cleveland for the final wild-card spot. The Guardians were set to play the White Sox, Toronto - one game behind Cleveland - had Detroit, and Texas, sitting 1 1/2 games back of the Guardians, was lined up against Boston.
Albernaz said he is keeping one eye on the standings, even while insisting the Orioles’ job starts with winning their own games.
“Ultimately, we still have to win games,” he said. “We’re gonna need some help, but also we still have to win the games that we’re playing to give ourselves a chance. It doesn’t matter what else is happening around the league.
“We still have to go out and win ballgames, and that’s my sole focus every single day, but at the end of the day, I do check on the scores … It’s the fun part of the year. We just have to control what we can control.”
The Orioles’ lineup against the Mets featured Rece Hinds in left field, Pete Alonso at first base, Coby Mayo at designated hitter, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third base, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Jeremiah Jackson at second base, Yohel Pozo at catcher, Leody Taveras in right field and Colton Cowser in center field, with Shane Baz on the mound.
The Mets’ lineup had Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Juan Soto in left field, Bo Bichette at third base, Carson Benge in right field, Jared Young at first base, Marcus Semien at second base, A.J. Ewing in center field, Brett Baty at designated hitter, Franciso Alvarez at catcher and Sean Manaea starting at left-hander.
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