NEW YORK – Another blow to the Baltimore Orioles' starting lineup: Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez will not pitch in 2024, manager Brandon Hyde announced Wednesday.

The Orioles had believed that Rodriguez, who has been on the injured list since Aug. 7 with a strained right shoulder and back, could return to pitching in the playoffs or even late in the regular season. But those hopes were dashed when he failed to play through what the team initially described as a “minor” injury as expected.

“Usually an injury like this takes a while,” Hyde said before Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees. “And having him back for the playoffs was going to be a little hectic. And we just thought it was the right thing to do for his health – for his future.”

Rodriguez, 24, began the season as the Orioles' second starter behind Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner signed in February. He made six starting appearances before spending more than two weeks on the injured list between April and May due to right shoulder inflammation.

Rodriguez finishes his second major league season with a record of 13-4 and a 3.86 ERA in 116 ⅔ innings in 20 games.

“It's a loss,” Hyde said. “And we missed him.”

Rodriguez was among the Orioles' starting pitchers who will be out for the season, along with John Means, Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish — all of whom suffered elbow injuries. As it stands, the Orioles will enter the postseason with five regular-season games remaining with Burnes, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer and Albert Suarez as their top four starters.

“That's part of the game,” Hyde said. “Unfortunately, it's a part of the game that stinks. We've been missing guys all year and we've persevered. And we're looking forward to the next five and the postseason.”

The Orioles must win their remaining five games and the Yankees must lose their final five to win the American League East. While that's unlikely, Baltimore is still playing for home-field advantage in next week's three-game wild-card series.