NEW YORK (AP) — Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman likely will be sidelined until after the All-Star break because of a strained left oblique, and infielder Jordan Westburg will be out for at least a few days because of a sprained left index finger sustained even though he wore a sliding mitt.
Rutschman felt pain during batting practice on Friday and was scratched. He had an MRI on Saturday.
“He feels something small right there. We all know abdominal and oblique injuries, if you push those things, you can get really ugly. Instead of being three, four weeks, it could be three months,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said Sunday.
“He’s kind of going stir crazy. I think the fact that it is mild in nature probably makes it a little harder for him,” Mansolino added. "They went and got an MRI. They checked it out, which validated that. In his mind, he probably thinks he can possibly go out there, but obviously we know medically that’s not the smart thing to do for him right now.”
On the injured list for the first time in his big league career, Rutschman is hitting .227 with eight homers and 20 RBIs in 68 games.
Westburg injured the finger while stealing second base in Saturday's 9-0 loss to the New York Yankees.
“Actually the sliding mitt that’s supposed to protect his hand, that’s the one that he did it,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said Sunday. “Doesn’t know how he did it. It’s been the same mitt that he’s used for a couple years, talking about it this morning. Kind of crazy that he hurt his finger. That’s what those things are for.”
Westburg missed more than a month with a left hamstring strain before returning on June 10. The 26-year-old is hitting .229 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games this season. He had 10 hits in his first 25 at-bats before going hitless in his next 14.
“It’s sore this morning. We’re hoping it’s two to three days. If it gets to be longer, then it’ll be another conversation at that point," Mansolino said. “The X-rays were negative, so it’s not fractured. That's the positive. So nothing catastrophic by any means.”
Westburg hit .264 with 18 homers and 63 RBIs last year, becoming a first-time All-Star.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle (strained right hamstring) also is on the injured list along with outfielders Tyler O'Neill (left shoulder impingement) and Jorge Mateo (left shoulder inflammation).
Right-hander Yannier Cano was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after striking out the side in the seventh inning Saturday, and right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo was recalled from the Tides on Sunday.
“It starts ultimately with the amount of innings that we’ve had covered here recently with the bullpen,” Mansolino said. “We need a fresh arm. You have limited amount of bullpen guys that have options.”
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg (11) throws to first base after forcing out New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez (24) during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 20, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman (35) advances toward home plate to score on an RBI hit in by Gunnar Henderson during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas (7-8-1) at N.Y. Giants (3-13)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox
BetMGM NFL Odds: Cowboys by 3 1/2
Against the spread: Cowboys 7-9; Giants 7-8-1
Series record: Dallas leads 78-47-2.
Last week: Cowboys beat Commanders 30-23; Giants beat Raiders 34-10.
Last meeting: Dallas beat Washington 40-37 in OT on Sept. 14.
Cowboys offense: overall (1), rush (9), pass (1), scoring (4)
Cowboys defense: overall (30), rush (t20), pass (32), scoring (32)
Giants offense: overall (15), rush (6), pass (21), scoring (21)
Giants defense: overall (29), rush (30), pass (20), scoring (26)
Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-8; Giants minus-3
QB Dak Prescott has a 14-game winning streak against the Giants since two of his losses in a 13-3 rookie season in 2016 came against them. It’s the second-longest winning streak against a single opponent in NFL history behind Bob Griese, who beat Buffalo 17 consecutive times from 1968-79. Prescott will get credit for a Dallas victory because he is expected to start. The question is how long he will play in a finale with no playoff implications. Either way, this will go down as one of Prescott’s best seasons. He enters the final week first in the NFL with 4,482 yards passing.
WR Wan'Dale Robinson gets to put the finishing touches on his case for a new contract, either with the team that drafted him or elsewhere. Robinson last week became the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving since 5-7 Richard Johnson in 1989 and just the third since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. And he's playing against a Dallas secondary without Trevon Diggs, who was released on Tuesday.
Cowboys' offensive line vs. Giants' pass rush. New York's Brian Burns trails only Cleveland record-chasing Myles Garrett in sacks with a career-high 16 1/2, while rookie Abdul Carter has heated up with 3 1/2 over the past four games. Dallas would like to keep Prescott upright, no matter how long he plays.
Cowboys: RBs Javonte Williams (stinger) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) have been ruled out. The backs with a chance to be active have 54 career carries among them: FB Hunter Luepke (32) and rookies Jaydon Blue (22) and Phil Mafah (0). Mafah has been out all season with a shoulder injury, and is listed as questionable ... LB DeMarvion Overshown and rookie CB Shavon Revel have been dealing with concussions and won't play.
Giants: Two starters in the secondary are out: CB Cor'Dale Flott (knee) and S Jevon Holland (knee/concussion).
The Cowboys have won nine in a row against the Giants and 16 of the past 17. It's the longest active series in the league. Dallas' last winning streak this long was against Carolina from 1998-2012. ... Each team has been eliminated from playoff contention. ... The Cowboys are trying to avoid consecutive losing seasons for the first time since going 5-11 under coach Dave Campo from 2000-02. ... New York can still secure the top draft pick with a loss and Las Vegas victory against Kansas City or could drop as low as No. 7. ... This is expected to be interim coach Mike Kafka's final game with the Giants.
Cowboys WR George Pickens needs 80 yards receiving to reach 1,500 in his Dallas debut after the offseason trade from Pittsburgh. His only 1,000-yard season in three years with the Steelers came in 2023, when he had 1,140. … Ferguson needs one touchdown catch to tie the franchise tight end record of nine, held by Jason Witten and Billy Joe Dupree. … In their Week 2 game, K Brandon Aubrey had a tying 64-yard field goal on the final play of regulation and a winning 46-yarder as time expired in overtime in the 40-37 Dallas victory. ... Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart has accounted for 22 TDs (13 passing and nine rushing) with just five interceptions, in his first 11 professional starts. ... Robinson led the team with 113 yards receiving at Las Vegas. He had 142 in Week 2 at Dallas, which was before top receiver Malik Nabers was knocked out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. ... LB Bobby Okereke intercepted Geno Smith and had seven tackles last week. ... CB Deonte Banks returned a kickoff 95 yards for a TD against the Raiders.
Daily fantasy players might be able to cash in if Giants RB Tyrone Tracy has another big game rushing and receiving.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
FILE - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)
FILE - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) carries the ball after reception during a NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)
