Coby Mayo Sits Again as Orioles Watch Third Base

Coby Mayo was out of the lineup for Monday’s game against the Yankees, marking the second straight day he was not in the Orioles’ starting group. After five straight starts before that, the move leaves his role at third base unsettled heading into the middle of the week.

Weston Wilson at third

Weston Wilson handled third base again for Baltimore on Monday, while Mayo watched from the sideline. That was the clearest sign that the Orioles were willing to keep the position in flux rather than hand it back to Mayo after his recent run.

Mayo’s recent stretch explains why the change drew attention. He homered in three consecutive games in late April, then went 4-for-35 with a 0:14 BB:K over 13 tilts. The drop-off came after a five-start run that had given him a longer look in the lineup.

Jackson Holliday on rehab

Jackson Holliday has also started getting work at third base on his rehab assignment, adding another layer to the Orioles’ plans there. With Holliday working his way back and Jordan Westburg having already suffered a recent setback, Mayo’s path is no longer as clean as it looked during his earlier hot streak.

That makes Monday’s omission more than a one-game decision. Mayo is now sitting twice in a row, Wilson is holding the position, and Baltimore has already shown it is willing to shift the infield mix while it waits for better production. For Mayo, the next start he gets will say more about his standing than the homers he hit in late April.