Olney: How O’s leverage Adley Rutschman’s bat — without overworking him
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Buster Olney, ESPN Senior Writer
When Adley Rutschman was promoted to the big leagues little more than two years ago, the Baltimore Orioles‘ catcher became known for how he greets his pitcher coming off the mound. With his mask tucked under an armpit, Rutschman presents energy, or empathy, or encouragement, or maybe some combination of those — more often than not, a hug. Whatever is needed in the moment.
Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde values these people skills — not to mention Rutschman’s other abilities as a catcher. But Hyde has demonstrated that with Rutschman, a priority in his planning to make sure that his offensive skills are part of his batting order as often as possible.
“I’m trying to keep him as fresh as possible defensively,” Hyde said, as part of a conversation that began in March about how he chooses to deploy Rutschman. “But he’s also Adley Rutschman offensively, and we feel it when his bat’s not in the lineup.”
Rutschman was batting .300 through Thursday’s game, with 95 hits, 15 homers and an Adjusted OPS+ of 140. Few catchers anchor a lineup in the way that Rutschman does for the Orioles. Hall of Famer Mike Piazza was usually the most important hitter for the New York Mets in his eight years with that team, and never played more than 141 games, in years before National League teams did not have daily access to the designated hitter. Buster Posey often hit third or fourth for the Giants, and in 2015, he played in a career-high 150 games, sometimes at first base. Salvador Perez, a recent outlier, played 161 games in 2021, 122 of those at catcher.
Rutschman played in 154 games last season, and in the first half of 2024, he has been in the lineup almost every game — 77 of the team’s 81 games. He hits in the No. 2 spot, or, very occasionally, as the leadoff hitter, with Hyde willing to use him at a catcher a little less to ensure that he’s available to DH.
“It’s been a process over the last two years figuring out what’s best,” Rutschman said. “He obviously puts a lot of thought into it, which I appreciate.”
In fact, the past two years have included a steady dialogue between Rutschman and Hyde and the Baltimore staff — transparent conversations about how Rutschman is feeling, and whether he might benefit from more time at DH. These discussions are parallel to those that occurred in recent seasons to those between Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels, as the player and team tried to find the best path that would give him the most success as a two-way player.
Hyde said that the majority of the time, it’s the manager who initiates the conversation about a game at DH or even a day off.
“Because he still doesn’t like sitting,” Hyde said. “But he also understands it. He understands he does need time or breaks on occasion. We talk about it …”
Hyde chuckled. “But it’s usually I’m the one who’s going to him.”
“It’s my job to play,” Rutschman said. “At the end of the day, I’m always available to play — which is always the way you’ve always been taught to play. It’s a tough thing to balance, in my mind, in players’ mind.”
Last year, Rutschman caught 110 games, and this season, he’s on pace to be behind the plate a little less. (In the team’s first 81 games, he started at catcher in 49 and as DH in 27). Hyde said there’s not a specific target, but said that he felt Rutschman’s 2023 workload “worked out really, really well. He felt good at the end of the year. So that’s sort of my goal — have him in the lineup as much as possible, with giving him the right off days, letting his body recover.”
In making his plans, Hyde will look ahead about 10 days, he estimates, in trying to figure out when he’ll use Rutschman at catcher and when he could be a DH, with a number of variables in play — the travel schedule, the opposing team’s starting pitcher, the Orioles’ starter. Hyde will also factor in the feedback that he’s getting from Rutschman about how he’s feeling. As Rutschman has gotten more time in the big leagues, Hyde said before the season, he offers opinions more freely about what days might be best for him to catch and when it could be more beneficial for him to DH.
But those plans, Hyde said, are all made in pencil, because they can change based on the ever-changing circumstances — a need for Rutschman to pinch hit and finish the game at catcher, extra innings, weather delays or postponement, a shift in the opponent’s rotation. Working behind the plate in Thursday’s game, Rutschman was clipped on his throwing hand by a ball hit back at him. Though X-rays for a possible fracture showed no break, he was out of the lineup on Friday [for just the fifth time all year].
As Hyde weighs his options, he’ll also consider the best possible matchups for James McCann, the Orioles’ other catcher, who historically has hit better against left-handed pitchers than right-handers.
Over the past two seasons, Rutschman’s power production has been better when he has served as DH. He has 27 homers in 247 games in his career at catcher. In his 96 starts at DH, he has 20 homers, with a slugging percentage almost 170 points higher than when he catches. If Rutschman has had a heavy catching load, Hyde says, he can sometimes see the impact in Rutschman’s offense.
“If he’s [caught] four out of five days, I can just tell,” Hyde said. “Nobody’s going to be fresh catching over the summer in the northeast. I try to eyeball it and communicate with him, and we manage the best we can.”
When Rutschman was in college, he acknowledged, he wasn’t in the habit of telling athletic trainers about days he didn’t feel great, or was dealing with some minor nagging issue. “I feel like I’ve gotten better at that,” Rutschman said. “But you still want to play.”
Talking over the phone Thursday, Hyde noted the intensity of the Orioles’ schedule in June — Baltimore will wind up playing on 29 of the 30 days this month — to explain why he has used Rutschman more often as the DH. That slog slows in July: The Orioles have a day off Monday [although they are flying to Seattle overnight after their “Sunday Night Baseball” game against the Texas, cutting into their down time] and then have another day off July 8, before the All-Star break. Given those respites, Hyde figures he’ll be more aggressive in starting Rutschman at catcher in the month ahead.
But again, he adds, that plan could change. Because of a rainout, or a game lingering into a 12th or 13th inning, or a foul tip, or just an instinct from Hyde or one of his coaches.
Late in Posey’s career, he learned to streamline his game preparation in order to save some of the wear and tear on his body. Near the end of Posey’s time in the big leagues, former Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens said that Posey would need only 10 swings in batting practice to be ready. Hyde believes Rutschman is learning how to make similar adjustments.
“He’s a worker,” Hyde said. “Now that he’s past his first full major league year, he understands the calendar and what it takes. I think he’s going to be able to manage his swings and his extra stuff a lot better.”
The final weekend of the MLB season is here — and there’s still plenty to play for!
The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs have both clinched postseason berths, with the Brewers also taking home the NL Central title. The Philadelphia Phillies have locked up the NL East title, and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth straight NL West title on Thursday. The New York Mets, clinging onto the final wild-card-spot, won their series against the Cubs this week and control their own destiny going into the final weekend, but the door is still open for the Cincinnati Reds — who won on Thursday afternoon — and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL wild-card race.
In the AL, the Toronto Blue Jays became the first AL team to secure a playoff spot and the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners joined them days later. In the biggest twists of the 2025 season, the Cleveland Guardians have rocked the American League playoff picture with a September surge, emerging as a serious contender in both the AL Central and wild-card race: After winning their series against the Tigers this week, the Guardians are now tied with Detroit for the the AL Central lead.
Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end and playoffs begin: Where do current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to each day leading up to October? Who will be the next team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like?
We have everything you need to know as the regular season hits the homestretch.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings
Who’s in?
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot for a second consecutive year on Sept. 13 and followed up by securing their third straight NL Central title. They earned a bye in the first round and are playing for the NL’s overall No. 1 seed.
The Phillies clinched a spot in the postseason on Sept. 14. With a win the following night, Philadelphia clinched the NL East title for the second straight year. On Wednesday, the Phils beat the Marlins to clinch a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NLDS.
The Cubs clinched their spot in the postseason on Sept. 17 and will be making their first playoff appearance in a full-length season since 2018. They will face the Padres in the wild-card series.
With a win Thursday over the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers clinched the NL West title for the 12th time in the past 13 years. They will be the No. 3 seed in the NL and host the No. 6 seed in the wild-card series.
The Blue Jays became the first AL team to secure a postseason berth with a with over the Royals on Sunday. They are currently tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East — the division winner will earn a bye.
The Padres clinched their fourth postseason trip in six years with a walk-off win over the Brewers on Monday. They will face the Cubs in the wild-card series.
The Yankees became the second AL team to clinch a playoff spot with a walk-off win over the White Sox on Tuesday. They are currently tied with the Blue Jays for first place in the AL East — the division winner will earn a bye.
The Mariners clinched their first postseason appearance since 2022 on Tuesday and, with a 9-2 win on Wednesday, won their first AL West crown since 2001. They earned a bye in the first round.
Who can clinch a playoff spot next?
Upcoming clinch possibilities:
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The Red Sox can clinch a postseason berth Friday with a win OR an Astros loss
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The Guardians can clinch a postseason berth Friday with a win OR an Astros loss
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The Tigers can clinch a postseason berth as early as Friday with any combination of three Detroit wins and Astros losses
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
American League
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers at (3) Guardians, (5) Red Sox at (4) Yankees
ALDS: Tigers/Guardians vs. (2) Mariners, Red Sox/Yankees vs. (1) Blue Jays
National League
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Dodgers, (5) Padres at (4) Cubs
NLDS: Mets/Dodgers vs. (2) Phillies, Padres/Cubs vs. (1) Brewers
Tiebreaker scenarios
AL East teams
Toronto Blue Jays
Win tiebreaker: Mariners, Red Sox, Yankees
Lose tiebreaker: Guardians
New York Yankees
Win tiebreaker: Mariners
Lose tiebreaker: Blue Jays, Guardians, Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
Win tiebreaker: Astros, Guardians, Yankees
Lose tiebreaker: Blue Jays, Mariners
(Red Sox still have 3 games left vs. Tigers)
AL Central teams
Cleveland Guardians
Win tiebreaker: Astros, Tigers, Yankees, Blue Jays
Lose tiebreaker: Mariners, Red Sox
Detroit Tigers
Win tiebreaker: Astros
Lose tiebreaker: Guardians, Mariners
(Detroit still has 3 games left vs. Red Sox)
AL West teams
Seattle Mariners
Win tiebreaker: Tigers, Guardians, Red Sox
Lose tiebreaker: Blue Jays, Yankees
Houston Astros
Win tiebreaker: N/A
Lose tiebreaker: Guardians, Red Sox, Tigers
NL East teams
Philadelphia Phillies
Win tiebreaker: Dodgers
Lose tiebreaker: Brewers
New York Mets
Win tiebreaker: N/A
Lose tiebreaker: D-backs, Reds
(Mets would lose tiebreaker in 3-way tie with Reds and D-backs)
NL Central teams
Milwaukee Brewers
Win tiebreaker: Phillies
Lose tiebreaker: N/A
Chicago Cubs
Win tiebreaker: Dodgers
Lose tiebreaker: N/A
(Padres and Cubs tied season series, division record tiebreaker TBD)
Cincinnati Reds
Win tiebreaker: D-backs, Mets
Lose tiebreaker: N/A
(The Reds would win tiebreaker in 3-way tie with D-backs and Mets)
NL West teams
Los Angeles Dodgers
Win tiebreaker: Padres
Lose tiebreaker: Brewers, Cubs, Phillies
San Diego Padres
Win tiebreaker: N/A
Lose tiebreaker: Dodgers
(Padres and Cubs tied season series, division record tiebreaker TBD)
Arizona Diamondbacks
Win tiebreaker: Mets
Lose tiebreaker: Reds
(D-backs would lose tiebreaker in 3-way tie with Reds and Mets)
Breaking down the AL race
The Blue Jays are trying to hold for the AL’s No. 1 seed and division title. While Toronto sits atop the AL East, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are duking it out for wild-card seeding. And the Seattle Mariners separated themselves from the Houston Astros in a two-team AL West race to win their first division crown since 2001. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians are going toe-to-toe with the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central while also playing themselves into a tight race for the final wild-card spot.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Breaking down the NL race
The Brewers were the first MLB team to seal its spot in October, and the Phillies — who then sealed an NL East title — clinched next. A group of contenders have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds battling for the final playoff spot, and there is intrigue in the NL West as the Dodgers attempt to fend off the Padres for the division crown.
And what about when these teams get to the postseason? Here’s what their chances are for every round:
Game of the day
Looking for something to watch today? Here’s the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:
Playoff schedule
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*
Division series
Best of five
ALDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*
NLDS
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*
League championship series
Best of seven
ALCS
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 12
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*
NLCS
Game 1: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*
World Series
Best of seven
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*
* If necessary
ARLINGTON, Texas — Bruce Bochy is in the final games of his three-year contract with the Texas Rangers, a span that began with the franchise’s only World Series title, but baseball’s winningest active manager isn’t ready to discuss if he will be back next season.
“Season’s not over. It’s something we’ll talk about when the season’s over,” Bochy said before the Rangers lost 4-0 to Minnesota in their home finale Thursday. “So I’m going to stick with that right now and see if we can win a couple of games here.”
Both Bochy, who turned 70 this season, and Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, said they will talk about next season after this one is done. The Rangers, who will miss the playoffs for the second year in a row since that championship in 2023, finish with three games at Cleveland this weekend.
“The two of us will sit down and talk about where things are, what happened this year, where we’re going,” Young said. “There’s things that I’m sure he’s going to want to know about the future of the team and we’ll talk about it, like we did three years ago, and figure it out.”
Young, who pitched a season for Bochy in San Diego, was the Rangers general manager when he hired Bochy as manager after the 2022 season. They were coming off their sixth consecutive losing season, the longest streak in the half-century since the franchise moved to Texas in 1972.
At that time, Bochy had been out of managing for three seasons. He stepped away from the San Francisco Giants in 2019 after 13 seasons and three World Series titles, which followed 12 seasons and a National League pennant with the Padres.
“Just love him. He’s great. I love working with him. He’s been wonderful,” Young said. “He came here to win a World Series. He’s helped us accomplish that. And, you know, we’ll figure out what the future holds.”
Young didn’t have a timeline on how quickly a decision could be made after the season ends this weekend.
The Rangers (80-79) were eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday night when they lost their eighth straight game, but ended that losing streak the next night. They can still finish with a winning record, but would have to win two out of three against the playoff-chasing Guardians.
Bochy has a career record of 2,251-2,264 over his 28 seasons, with those wins ranking sixth among all managers – the five ahead of him are all in the Hall of Fame. No managers in the past 60 years have more than Bochy’s four World Series titles, and the only ones all-time with more are Joe McCarthy, Casey Stengel and Connie Mack.
“Oh, I’ve really had a great time, and it’s as much fun as I’ve had in the game,” Bochy said of his three seasons back in the dugout. “I said this when I came back, you have a deeper appreciation when you’re out, especially for three years and you realize what you have, how blessed you are to be doing what you’re doing. It’s been a lot of fun and I still love it, and enjoy it.”
The only current MLB manager older than Bochy is 73-year-old Ron Washington with the Angels, though he hasn’t managed a game for the Angels since June 19 before he had quadruple bypass heart surgery.
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