The Baltimore Orioles may be losing yet another position player to the 10-day injured list. The club has battled injuries all season long, and it is a major reason they remain under the .500 mark two months into the year.
On Sunday, the next player to potentially go down long-term is Coby Mayo, who was removed from the lineup minutes before first pitch.
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Because Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers was rained out, the Orioles played a doubleheader, and Mayo was originally listed in the lineup for Game 1, hitting sixth and playing third base. However, just moments before first pitch, he was replaced by Weston Wilson at the hot corner. The Orioles revealed the cause of Mayo’s removal was due to injury.
“Orioles’ Coby Mayo has been scratched from Game 1 of today’s doubleheader with low back discomfort, the team announced. Weston Wilson takes his spot at third base batting sixth,” reported Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun.
It remains unclear whether Mayo will require a stint on the injured list. Manager Craig Albernaz said he is considered day-to-day for now, and explained that his back “tightened up on him,” according to Jake Rill of MLB.com.
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The Orioles will likely continue evaluating him further. For Mayo, this is another frustrating setback in what has already been a disappointing third season.
Through 43 games, Mayo is hitting .186 with a .259 on-base percentage, .592 OPS, five home runs and 18 RBIs. The power is still there, but he simply is not making enough contact. It is a noticeable step back from his 2025 season, when he looked closer to a league-average hitter rather than the liability he has been this year.
This was supposed to be the perfect season for Mayo to establish himself. With Jordan Westburg out for the year, the Orioles had a clear opening at third base, and Mayo had every opportunity to seize the job.
Instead, his struggles have raised real questions about whether he is a long-term piece of the roster. So much so that Jackson Holliday has begun taking reps at third base, signaling that the organization is preparing for alternative options.
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Mayo’s next chance to return to the lineup will come Monday when the Orioles open a series against the Tampa Bay Rays. For now, the team can only hope his back issue is not serious, because Baltimore cannot afford to lose yet another everyday player, regardless of Mayo’s performance in 2026.