TORONTO — Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was scratched from Tuesday’s start at Toronto minutes before the first pitch because of pain in his upper back and shoulder.
Right-handed reliever Albert Suárez got the start in place of Rodriguez.
The Orioles said Rodriguez was scratched because of discomfort in his right latissimus dorsi and teres major, two muscles that help move the upper arm.
Rodriguez was on the injured list from April 30-May 18 because of right shoulder inflammation.
Rodriguez, 24, is 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 20 starts for the AL East-leading Orioles, tied with Atlanta’s Chris Sale and Kansas City’s Seth Lugo for the major league lead in victories.
Baltimore’s first-round pick in the 2018 draft, Rodriguez has won five of his last six decisions. He went 7-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 23 starts as a rookie last season.
Suárez struck out six in five shutout innings, however Baltimore gave up five runs in the sixth en route to a 5-2 loss.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
