BALTIMORE -- Cedric Mullins was out of Sunday night's starting lineup against the Yankees as the Orioles' rookie outfielder is dealing with a sore hip flexor.
"I'm hoping it's a short-term thing and I'm not going to broadcast his availability tonight," manager Buck Showalter said of Mullins, who hasn't missed a game since making his Major League debut on Aug. 10. "Just didn't think it was, after 18 innings yesterday, in his best interest to start tonight. I hate it because I'd love for everybody to see Cedric [on national television], but he's not going to start."
Showalter said the decision to not put Adam Jones, who was moved to right field when Mullins came up, back to center was because he wants Jones to continue to get reps at the new position and doesn't want the veteran to "yo-yo" back and forth.
Mullins suffered the injury making an off-balance throw during Saturday's doubleheader, and the O's are hoping the 23-year-old can return for the three-game series against the Blue Jays that starts on Monday night.
"I'm hoping it improves as much from today to tomorrow as it did from the time he got up and called our trainers [to now]," Showalter said.
Mullins, the first Orioles player in history to record three hits in his debut, has been a bright spot for a last-place Baltimore club. He entered Sunday batting .309 with two homers, five doubles and five RBIs in 15 games.