Jorge Mateo
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2023Neon14954663106562441430170432130.1940.2390.330
2024Rampage1033684672401457189940010.1960.2350.318
2025Rampage723240200173000.1740.2080.261
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 30 2025Mateo (elbow) was pulled from a rehab game Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk due to a hamstring issue, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has been working his way back from left elbow inflammation and was participating in his fourth game of a rehab assignment before sustaining the setback. He's expected to undergo further evaluation in the coming days, so be on the lookout for an update on the severity of the injury.
Jun 25 2025Mateo (elbow) told reporters Wednesday that he has participated in all baseball activities and is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo reported to Norfolk on Tuesday while continuing to build back up from left elbow inflammation that caused him to be placed on the 10-day injured list June 10. Mateo sported a .510 OPS with 14 steals, three doubles, one home run and three RBI in 65 plate appearances with the Orioles prior to landing on the IL.
Jun 23 2025Mateo (elbow) is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is entering the final stages of his recovery from left elbow inflammation. The 30-year-old speedster has a chance to rejoin Baltimore's roster before the end of June, but he should be able to return in early July at the latest. Mateo primarily served as a pinch runner and defensive specialist prior to going down, having slashed .180/.231/.279 with one home run, three doubles, three RBI and 14 stolen bases over 65 plate appearances.
Jun 20 2025Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Friday that Mateo (elbow) has resumed baseball activities and is nearing a rehab assignment, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mansolino didn't specify a target return date for Mateo, but a return to baseball activities is still a significant step forward for the 29-year-old, who has been out since early June with elbow inflammation.
Jun 10 2025The Orioles placed Mateo on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 7, due to left elbow inflammation. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo missed the last two games for Baltimore and his absence will now extend until at least June 17. In a corresponding move, the Orioles selected Luis Vazquez from Triple-A Norfolk.
May 31 2025Mateo went 1-for-1 with two walks, a two-run home run and two stolen bases in Saturday's 4-2 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start in center field and batting ninth, Mateo looked like he might be the latest Baltimore outfielder to land on the injured list when he appeared to hurt his arm in a collision with Heston Kjerstad in the eighth inning. Mateo stayed in the game however and proved he was OK by swiping his second bag of the game in the bottom of the frame. That capped a huge performance from the utility player that included his first long ball of the campaign, a fifth-inning shot off Davis Martin, and his first game with multiple walks in over a year. Mateo has started five of the Orioles' last nine games -- three in center field, one in left and one at shortstop -- and he's gone 5-for-17 (.294) over that stretch with seven of his 14 stolen bases on the season.
May 24 2025Mateo went a combined 1-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases and a run across both games of a doubleheader split against the Red Sox on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo began Game 1 on the bench but entered as a pinch runner in the eighth inning, reaching second on a stolen base before striking out in his lone plate appearance in the 10th. He got the start in center field in the nightcap and played a key role on offense, drawing a walk in the ninth inning before stealing second base again and subsequently coming around to score the decisive run on a Dylan Carlson double. Mateo is slashing just .209/.244/.279 on the season with no home runs and only one RBI through 45 plate appearances, but he's been able to make some impact with his speed, notching nine thefts on 10 attempts.
Mar 28 2025Mateo will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Friday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was a somewhat surprising inclusion on the Orioles' Opening Day roster after seeing limited Grapefruit League action as he worked his way back from UCL reconstruction surgery on his non-throwing elbow. He entered Thursday's contest late on defense and will get the start in the second game of the series.
Mar 27 2025The Orioles included Mateo (elbow) on their season-opening 26-man active roster, and he'll be available off the bench in Thursday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just one day earlier, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun noted that Mateo didn't have a locker in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre, which seemed to suggest that the 29-year-old wouldn't be included on the Opening Day roster after logging just 11 at-bats in the Grapefruit League while recovering from UCL reconstruction surgery on his non-throwing elbow. However, Mateo told Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com that he feels ready to play after logging extra at-bats in Florida in recent days, and the Orioles are apparently confident enough in his health, too. Mateo projects to handle a utility role for the Orioles, with most of his starts likely to come against left-handed pitching.
Mar 26 2025Mateo (elbow) will not be on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Orioles had left open the possibility that Mateo could be ready even though he wasn't cleared for Grapefruit League games until mid-March, but the 29-year-old needs a little more time. Livan Soto is expected to fill a utility role while Mateo is out.
Mar 16 2025Mateo (elbow) is starting at shortstop and batting seventh in Sunday's split-squad game against the Phillies, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo underwent UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow in late August and will be making his first start of spring training. The 29-year-old hasn't officially been ruled out for Opening Day, but manager Brandon Hyde recently said Mateo is unlikely to be available.
Mar 14 2025Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Friday that Mateo (elbow) could make his Grapefruit League debut soon but remains doubtful for Opening Day, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo had already essentially been ruled out for the opener, so an injured list stint wouldn't be a surprise. He's making nice progress from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow, though, and will continue his ramp up in games soon.
Mar 10 2025Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Mateo (elbow) went through a full workout Monday but is "still a ways away" from playing in a game, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hyde said that Mateo "looked great" in the workout, but it does not sound like the Orioles plan to throw him into a Grapefruit League game anytime soon, and perhaps not at all this spring. Mateo is coming back from a UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow. Once healthy, he's projected for a utility role with Baltimore.
Mar 7 2025Mateo (elbow) has begun hitting in a cage but is still a long shot to be ready by Opening Day, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is working through his recovery from the UCL reconstruction surgery he underwent on his left elbow in late August. He's upgraded from hitting off a tee to in the cage, but it appears the 29-year-old is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day and could begin the 2025 regular season on the injured list. He appeared in 68 regular-season games for the Orioles in 2024 and posted a slash line of .229/.267/.401 with 13 stolen bases, five home runs and 18 RBI across 208 plate appearances.
Feb 25 2025Mateo swung a bat Monday for the first time since left elbow surgery, hitting balls off a tee, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo feels good about where he's at in the rehab process and will continue to ramp up his hitting progression. The Orioles have already ruled the utility player out for Opening Day, although it's not yet clear when he might be ready to make his season debut.
Feb 13 2025Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Mateo (elbow) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's rehab from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow is going well, but he will be held out game action until late in spring training. The 29-year-old's stint on the injured list to begin the season could be relatively brief, and once healthy he will fill a utility role for Baltimore.
Jan 28 2025The Orioles agreed to terms with Mateo (elbow) on a one-year contract Tuesday with a club option for 2026 to avoid arbitration. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The deal is worth $3.55 million, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports. As for Mateo's injured left elbow, there is no update as he recovers from UCL reconstruction surgery on his non throwing arm. He may be limited in spring training, and as to how he will be used is up in the air. The utility player will have a conversation with the Orioles on how he will be utilized when spring training commences, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reported Dec. 9.
Nov 15 2024Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that Mateo (elbow) might not be fully recovered for the start of spring training, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a contradiction of what Elias said in October about Mateo's recovery from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow, although the revised timetable does not seem to be the result of a setback. Elias did add that he expected Mateo to be ready for close to a full 162-game schedule. Mateo is slated for a utility role with the Orioles in 2025.
Oct 3 2024Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that he expects Mateo (elbow) to more or less be full go for the start of spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo required UCL reconstruction surgery on his left elbow in late August for an injury he initially suffered in late July. Because the operation was on his non-throwing elbow, it significantly reduces the recovery time. Mateo is eligible for arbitration for a final time this winter and should be back in a utility role for the Orioles in 2025.
Aug 28 2024The Orioles announced that Mateo underwent season-ending UCL reconstruction surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo hadn't played since July 23 with a left elbow subluxation before eventually requiring the procedure. He'll finish the 2024 campaign with a .229/.267/.401 slash line to go with five home runs and 13 stolen bases across 68 games. The 29-year-old will enter his final year of arbitration eligibility this offseason and will likely fill a utility role if the Orioles opt to keep him on the roster in 2025.
Jul 30 2024Mateo was transferred to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left elbow subluxation and he will now be forced to miss two months of action while recovering. He'll be eligible to return from the IL in late September if he's able to avoid any setbacks. With Mateo unavailable, top prospect Jackson Holliday is set to join the major-league roster in Baltimore on Wednesday ahead of the team's series finale with the Blue Jays.
Jul 25 2024Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Mateo (elbow) will miss "a significant amount of time," Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo landed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a partially dislocated elbow, the result of a collision with teammate Gunnar Henderson earlier this week. The Orioles won't know more about a potential timetable for the infielder's return until the swelling goes down, but surgery is a possibility. Even if Mateo doesn't wind up going under the knife, it sounds like he'll be sidelined for at least several weeks. Jordan Westburg and Connor Norby will handle the reps at second base for now, and Jackson Holliday could also eventually get another look.
Jul 24 2024The Orioles will place Mateo on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a dislocated left elbow, Paige Leckie of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo suffered the injury during a collision with teammate Gunnar Henderson while attempting to make a diving play in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Marlins. Connor Norby, who was added to Baltimore's taxi squad Wednesday, will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to fill the opening in the Orioles infield and is expected to start in Thursday's series finale in Miami.
Jul 23 2024X-rays on Mateo's left arm came back negative after he was removed from Tuesday's game versus Miami following a collision with Gunnar Henderson, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo will need to undergo an MRI in order to have a good idea of what the 29-year-old is dealing with, but a clean X-ray is an encouraging sign. Until the results of Mateo's MRI come back, he should be viewed as day-to-day.
Jul 7 2024Mateo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll hit the bench for the second day in a row after going 2-for-18 at the dish over his last five starts. Mateo looks to be part of a timeshare with Ramon Urias for the final spot in the Orioles' regular infield.
Jul 6 2024Mateo isn't in the Orioles' lineup for Saturday's game against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will get a day off Saturday after going 1-for-4 with a strikeout during Friday's series opener. His absence will move Jordan Westburg over to second base while Ramon Urias starts at third, batting ninth.
Jul 3 2024Mateo is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has gone 0-for-7 with one walk and two strikeouts over his last two games, and he will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias will start at second and third base, respectively.
Jun 24 2024Mateo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo appeared to have settled into an everyday role at the keystone around mid-June, but the Orioles may now be viewing him as more of a part-time player. He'll take a seat for the third time in five games, with Mateo's absence in the lineup opening up a starting spot in the infield for Ramon Urias.
Jun 22 2024Mateo is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will begin Saturday's game in the dugout after going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 14-11 loss to Houston. Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias will man second and third base, respectively, against Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco.
Jun 20 2024Mateo is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo had a couple hits and a run scored in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Yankees, but he'll nonetheless begin Thursday's festivities on the bench. Jordan Westburg is at second base and Ramon Urias will play third.
Jun 19 2024Mateo went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo remains in a slump -- he's 0-for-10 over his last four games -- but he's picked up two steals over six contests since he returned from a concussion. With Jordan Westburg (hip) leaving Tuesday's game early, Mateo's playing time could rise in the short term if his teammate is forced to miss additional games. Mateo is at a .231/.280/.431 slash line with four home runs, 16 RBI, 22 runs scored and 12 steals across 48 contests this season.
Jun 16 2024Mateo is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will remain on the bench in favor of Ramon Urias -- with Jordan Westburg at second base -- after Urias went 2-for-4 in Saturday's win. While it's a second straight absence for Mateo after four consecutive starts fresh off the 7-day concussion list, there has been no hint of an injury setback.
Jun 15 2024Mateo is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Phillies, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will take a seat after he went 2-for-13 with a three-run home run, two runs scored and a stolen base while starting four consecutive games after being activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday. Jordan Westburg will slide over to second base while Ramon Urias enters the lineup at third base and bats ninth against Philadelphia.
Jun 11 2024Mateo went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo missed just over a week due to a concussion, and he provided a big blast in his first at-bat back from the injured list. His second-inning homer ended up being plenty of offense for Baltimore in this contest. Mateo his .246 over the 20 games prior to his absence, and he's at a .248/.295/.470 slash line with four homers, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored and 10 stolen bases through 43 contests overall. While he started at shortstop Tuesday to give Gunnar Henderson a breather, Mateo's playing time will likely be primarily at second base moving forward, which will push Jordan Westburg over to third and Ramon Urias back into a utility role.
Jun 9 2024Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo (concussion) won't be reinstated from the 7-day injured list when first eligible Monday but could be activated Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.comreports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 28-year-old suffered the concussion June 2 against Tampa Bay and was able to ramp up his baseball work this weekend. Mateo won't be ready after spending the 7-day minimum on the shelf, but it appears his absence won't extend much beyond that.
Jun 7 2024Mateo (concussion) took ground balls Friday and could participate in batting practice, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was able to play catch Thursday and took another step forward in his rehab from a concussion he sustained June 2. The second baseman appears to be on track to return next week.
Jun 6 2024Mateo (concussion) played catch on the field at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thursday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list Monday after his teammate, Cedric Mullins, inadvertently hit him with the bat in the back of the helmet while in the on-deck circle. It's not clear yet whether Mateo will have a chance to return when first eligible June 10, but him being able to travel with the team and take part in some baseball activities is a encouraging sign.
Jun 3 2024The Orioles placed Mateo on the 7-day concussion injured list Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's move to the 7-day IL comes as little surprise after he entered MLB's concussion protocol when he was removed in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rays after being inadvertently hit the back of the helmet by teammate Cedric Mullins, who was swinging in the on-deck circle alongside him. Ramon Urias came off the bench to replace Mateo, but the Orioles could turn to rookie Connor Norby -- who was called up from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move -- to step in for Mateo as their new everyday second baseman.
Jun 2 2024Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo is going through the concussion protocol after exiting Sunday's game versus the Rays, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was struck in the head by the bat of teammate Cedric Mullins around the on-deck circle and was subsequently removed from the contest. It remains to be seen if Mateo will miss additional time, and he should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated.
May 26 2024Mateo went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has racked up five steals while going 6-for-23 (.261) over his last eight games. The infielder is up to 10 thefts on the year, putting him roughly on pace to challenge for a third straight 30-steal campaign. He's slashing .247/.302/.464 with three home runs, nine RBI, 18 runs scored, 10 doubles and a triple over 108 plate appearances, though he's seen a starting role at second base for most of May.
May 25 2024Mateo is not in the Orioles' starting lineup Saturday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 1-for-2 with a three-run home run, two stolen bases and two walks Thursday, Mateo went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Friday's 6-4 win over Chicago. He'll take a seat to begin Saturday's contest, and the Orioles will start Ramon Urias at third base against White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde.
May 24 2024Mateo went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's win over the Tigers while also drawing two walks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo walked and stole second in his opening plate appearance before coming around to score on an Adley Rutschman single. The second baseman then broke open a 2-2 game with a three-run shot in the fourth and went on to reach base four times in the contest. The home run was Mateo's third of the season and he's now hit safely in six of his last seven games, going 7-for-22 (.318) over that stretch with four RBI, six runs scored and four stolen bases.
May 22 2024Mateo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After playing the final three innings of Tuesday's suspended game earlier Wednesday and finishing 1-for-3 with an RBI double in Baltimore's 3-1 loss, Mateo will get a breather for the regularly scheduled game. Jordan Westburg will shift over from third base and man the keystone in place of Mateo, whose streak of seven consecutive starts comes to an end.
May 19 2024Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has a steal in each of the last two games, giving him seven thefts on the year. The infielder has gone 11-for-42 (.262) over 14 games in May, lifting his season slash line to .259/.299/.457 over 89 plate appearances. Sunday was the first time in four contests he didn't record an extra-base hit, though there typically isn't an abundance of power in his game. Mateo should continue to occupy a starting role at second base as long as he's hitting well.
May 18 2024Mateo went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has hit .263 (10-for-38) over 13 games in May, but this was his first multi-hit effort of the season. He's made up for the lack of explosiveness with modest consistency, slashing .260/.301/.468 over 85 plate appearances this season. Mateo has added two home runs, six steals, five RBI, 14 runs scored, eight doubles and a triple. He continues to see most of the playing time at second base, with Jordan Westburg at third and Ramon Urias in a utility role.
May 12 2024Mateo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will hit the bench after he had started at second base in each of the last three games while going 3-for-11 with an RBI and three runs scored. Jordan Westburg will shift over from third base to cover the keystone in place of Mateo.
May 7 2024Mateo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game at Washington, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started the previous four games and will head to the bench after going 3-for-14 with two homers. Jordan Westburg will shift to the keystone while Ramon Urias starts at third base.
May 4 2024Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While not known for his power, Mateo has run into a couple in recent days for his first two homers of the 2024 season. Saturday's start was the third straight for Mateo, as he has been playing regularly at second base since Jackson Holliday was demoted to Triple-A. Speed is Mateo's greatest asset for fantasy managers; he has five steals this season and cleared 30 stolen bases in just 116 games last year.
May 2 2024Mateo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and a hit-by-pitch in Thursday's 7-2 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's first homer of the year gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, and they never looked back. He tacked on another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. His playing time has trended up since Jackson Holliday was demoted to Triple-A Norfolk, but Mateo has gone a modest 3-for-11 with two extra-base hits over his last five games. The utility man is slashing .268/.340/.488 with three RBI, seven runs scored, four stolen bases and six doubles over 47 plate appearances.
Apr 27 2024Mateo went 0-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-0 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has seen limited playing time this season, though he could get more looks after Jackson Holliday was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. Through 35 plate appearances, Mateo is slashing .250/.314/.406 with four steals, one RBI, five runs scored and five doubles. He's unlikely to take a full-time role from Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias or Cedric Mullins, but Mateo offers utility value and speed while playing primarily versus left-handed pitchers.
Apr 22 2024Mateo went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and two stolen bases in Monday's 4-2 win against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo made his second start in three games and used his legs to help the Orioles score their second run, following a third-inning walk with a pair of thefts before coming home on an Adley Rutschman single. The performance was indicative of what Mateo brings to Baltimore -- he's an elite base stealer when he's able to reach, but with a career .224 batting average and .271 OBP, that doesn't happen enough to keep him in the lineup consistently. From a fantasy perspective, Mateo is most useful as a base-stealing specialist in leagues that allow daily lineup changes.
Apr 10 2024Mateo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Orioles had included at least one Mateo or Ramon Urias in their starting infield in all but one of their first 10 games, but both players look set to lose out on playing time following the promotion of top prospect Jackson Holliday from Triple-A Norfolk. With Holliday expected to handle an everyday role at the keystone, Jordan Westburg should see most of the starts at third base, closing off both of Mateo's primary avenues to playing time in the infield. Mateo has made one start in center field, but he's still likely to be little more than an occasional fill-in for everyday starter Cedric Mullins at that position.
Apr 3 2024Mateo will start in center field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game versus Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has yet to start a game versus a right-hander, but he's been in the starting nine all three times the Orioles have faced southpaws thus far. He manned second base in his first two starts but will handle center field Wednesday while the lefty-hitting Cedric Mullins gets a breather against Royals southpaw Cole Ragans.
Mar 30 2024Mateo is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo got the start at second base for the season opener on Thursday, when he finished 1-for-3 with two runs, one walk and a strikeout. Against Angels right-hander Griffin Canning, the Orioles will move Jordan Westburg to second base, while Ryan O'Hearn starts at DH.
Mar 29 2024Mateo went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 11-3 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo got the start at second base versus Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval, which may be an early indication of manager Brandon Hyde's preferences for lineup construction. It still doesn't give Mateo an everyday spot, but he could see a short-side platoon role at second base early in the campaign. He offers speed -- the utility man has 67 stolen bases over the last two campaigns -- but he'll need to hit enough to stay in the lineup, especially with top prospect Jackson Holliday waiting at Triple-A Norfolk.
Mar 21 2024Mateo will be a member of the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will be a part of the major-league roster to open the 2024 campaign according to manager Brandon Hyde. The shortstop produced an impressive .343 average with two homers, eight RBI, six runs and a stolen base over 35 at-bats in 14 games this spring. With Gunnar Henderson likely to handle the majority of the work at shortstop this season, Mateo will seemingly operate as a platoon option to begin 2024.
Mar 18 2024Mateo is likely to provide depth in the infield and outfield in 2024, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Gunnar Henderson set to see most of his playing time at shortstop, Mateo is without a full-time spot in the Orioles' lineup. Mateo got some work in at second base over the winter and has previously played center field in his career. In Sunday's game versus Atlanta, Mateo started in right field and shifted to left during the contest. He's gone 9-for-32 (.281) with two home runs and six RBI in spring training, but he has yet to steal a base during Grapefruit League play. Speed and defense are his top skills, but it's looking like a short-side platoon role may be a best-case scenario for Mateo to begin 2024. It's possible he sees most of his time as a late-game replacement.
Feb 19 2024Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Mateo took reps at second base over the winter before arriving at spring training, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. "We're going to keep our options open with him. He really increases the versatility we have on this club," Hyde said of Mateo. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo played all but 20 of his 863 defensive innings in 2023 at shortstop, with the rest coming in center field. After the Orioles retained him on a $2.7 million salary for 2024, Mateo projects to open the season as the team's everyday shortstop, though he may not be long for the job with top prospect Jackson Holliday unlikely to require much finishing time in the minors before making his MLB debut. Given the likelihood that he'll transition into a utility role once Holliday is ready for big-league action, Mateo has been getting exposure to the keystone, in addition to continuing to take reps at shortstop and center field. While he has a path to steadier playing time earlier in the season, Mateo should provide fantasy value on the bases after recording 32 steals in 37 attempts in 2023, but his light power, poor plate skills and likely spot at the bottom of the Baltimore lineup make him mostly a one-category play.
Oct 1 2023Mateo went 0-for-1 with one RBI, two runs scored and two steals in Saturday's 5-2 victory over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Mateo didn't start Saturday's game, he managed to make an impact after pinch running for Adley Rutschman in the seventh frame. The shortstop stole two bases and managed to cross home plate twice despite only receiving one at-bat. Mateo is now up to 32 pilfers on the year while slashing .218/.268/.341.
Sep 28 2023Mateo went 1-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo reached the 30-steal mark for the second year in a row, and he did it with four thefts over his last 10 contests. The shortstop has regularly been in the lineup versus southpaws lately, but he's seen minimal playing time versus righties. For the season, Mateo has a .219/.270/.344 slash line with seven home runs, 33 RBI and 56 runs scored over 112 contests, but he's hit just .180 with one homer since the start of May.
Sep 24 2023Mateo went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo drove in the second run of the game with an RBI groundout in the second, then doubled and later scored on an Adley Rutschman double in the fourth. Mateo had seven multi-hit efforts over the first month of the season, but Sunday was only his fifth such performance since. Entering Sunday, Mateo had hit only .172 over 233 at-bats since the start of May, but is now hitting .280 over 25 September at-bats.
Sep 14 2023Mateo went 1-for-1 with a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's 1-0 loss against St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Mateo's seen limited playing time in the short side of a platoon, he's been productive when on the field, going 6-for-17 (.353) with three steals in his last six games. He's up to 29 stolen bases this season, putting him on pace to top the 30-steal mark for the second consecutive year. Overall, Mateo is slashing .215/.266/.342 with seven homers, 52 runs scored and 32 RBI across 328 plate appearances on the campaign.
Sep 6 2023Mateo went 1-for-3 with one run scored and one steal in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo found himself in Tuesday's lineup against southpaw Reid Detmers and registered his 27th stolen base of 2023 after tagging Detmers for a single in the third inning. Though Mateo has almost exclusively played against left-handed pitching of late, he's enjoying a productive stretch, batting 7-for-22 (.318) with a homer and a pair of steals over his last seven games.
Aug 23 2023Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-3 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was in the lineup for the fourth time in five games, all of which have seen left-handed opposing starters. The shortstop has gone 5-for-27 (.185) with two steals over 11 games since the start of August. It appears he's in a short-side platoon role, and that will mean less playing time once the Orioles face some righties. Mateo is slashing .209/.255/.347 with 26 thefts, seven home runs, 32 RBI and 47 runs scored through 302 plate appearances.
Aug 20 2023Mateo went 2-for-5 with an inside-the-park solo home run, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 12-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's fitting that Mateo's first homer since April 30 -- snapping a 73-game power drought -- would be a product of his speed, not his power. The shortstop has seen limited opportunities in August, and he's gone just 4-for-23 over his 10 games this month. For the season, he's up to seven homers, 32 RBI, 46 runs scored, 25 stolen bases and 13 doubles through 298 plate appearances. Mateo has started three of the last four games at shortstop, though that's likely a product of the Orioles facing four straight southpaws rather than anything he's done to earn an increased role.
Aug 2 2023Mateo went 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 13-3 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Making his second straight start after riding the bench for a few games, Mateo snagged his 25th steal of the season while reaching base multiple times for the first time since June 25. It's been a rough summer for the 28-year-old, who has seen his OPS collapse to .601 after he exited April with a 1.062 mark, but his defense has kept him in the mix for playing time at shortstop while his speed has allowed him to maintain some deep-league fantasy appeal.
Jul 31 2023Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Monday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo hasn't helped his cause for playing time in July, going 6-for-36 (.167) over 17 games this month. He was able to knock three extra-base hits and added three steals, but he's been limited to a reserve role lately, and that's unlikely to change with the Orioles pacing the American League. Mateo is at a .212/.259/.340 slash line with 24 thefts, six home runs, 31 RBI and 40 runs scored over 87 contests this season.
Jul 20 2023Mateo went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-5 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's shaky hitting over the last couple of months has caught up to him since Jordan Westburg's been in the majors. Wednesday was just Mateo's fifth start in July -- he's become more of a backup infielder than an everyday starter while batting just .176 this month. For the season, the speedster is up to 23 steals, six home runs, 29 RBI, 38 runs scored, 11 doubles and a triple, but his .216/.267/.351 slash line is low by even his standards, and it won't help him get more playing time on a contender.
Jul 5 2023Mateo is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has now started just two of the last seven games, and one of those starts came when Jordan Westburg was banged up. Clearly, Mateo's lengthy slump has led to a role reduction, and it looks to be a significant one.
Jul 2 2023Mateo stole a base as a pinch runner in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started the game on the bench, but ran for Adley Rutschman in the ninth inning with the Orioles down a run. Since Jordan Westburg came up from Triple-A Norfolk, Mateo's seen his playing time dwindle, to the point where Mateo may be stuck in a short-side platoon role. The shortstop didn't help his case to play more, hitting just .196 with six steals in June. He has a .220/.267/.350 slash line with 22 thefts, six home runs, 27 RBI and 37 runs scored over 235 plate appearances this season, though he's cooled off dramatically following a strong April.
Jul 1 2023Mateo isn't in the Orioles' lineup Saturday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's struggles at the plate appear to be costing him significant playing time, as Saturday marks the third consecutive game Mateo will not start in. Gunnar Henderson will start at shortstop while Jordan Westburg plays third base and Adam Frazier takes second.
Jun 30 2023Mateo is not in the starting lineup Friday against Minnesota, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will get a breather after he went 0-for-4 with a run scored and two walks while striking out once while starting two games during the team's series with Cincinnati. Gunnar Henderson will slide over to shortstop while Ramon Urias enters the lineup at third base and bats seventh in the series opener with the Twins.
Jun 25 2023Mateo went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo went just 2-for-20 over his previous seven contests since his last steal. His struggles to get on base have minimized his best trait for fantasy managers, which is his ability to run rampant on the basepaths. The shortstop's multi-hit effort lifted his batting average on the year to .224 with 21 thefts, six home runs, 27 RBI and 36 runs scored over 68 contests. Mateo's playing time has already started to slip as the Orioles also try to balance at-bats for Gunnar Henderson and Ramon Urias on the left side of the infield, and that juggling act is set to get trickier with Jordan Westburg coming to the majors Monday.
Jun 24 2023Mateo is not starting in Saturday's lineup against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The return of Cedric Mullins (groin) has crowded the Baltimore lineup, and Mateo will be the odd man out Saturday. He's gone through a tough stretch at the plate of late, collecting only one hit across his last 16 at-bats. Gunnar Henderson will start at shortstop and Ramon Urias will man the hot corner.
Jun 15 2023Mateo went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Mateo's second two-steal game in his last five contests. He's seen his playing time drop a bit lately due to a 12-for-47 stretch over his last 16 games. The shortstop is still one of the top speed options in baseball with 20 steals on 23 attempts, but he's struggled to a .234/.276/.372 slash line with six home runs, 25 RBI and 34 runs scored over 60 games.
Jun 14 2023Mateo is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second time in three games and the third time in six games, Mateo finds himself on the bench while the Orioles roll out an infield of Josh Lester, Adam Frazier, Gunnar Henderson and Ramon Urias. Mateo still profiles as the Orioles' top option at shortstop for now, but it's clear that he's on a shorter leash after having slashed .152/.186/.179 since the beginning of May following an excellent first month of the season. Joey Ortiz, who was called up Wednesday, might represent Mateo's biggest threat for playing time at the moment, but Jordan Westburg -- who has posted a .966 OPS in 262 plate appearances at Triple-A Norfolk -- could end up taking over as the starting shortstop at some point later this season.
Jun 11 2023Mateo is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's finale against Kansas City, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has struggled in June to the tune of a .217/.217/.261 slash over eight games, and he went just 1-for-7 over the first two games of the series versus the Royals. Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop while Ramon Urias moves to third base while Mateo sits.
Jun 10 2023Mateo went 1-for-3 with one RBI and two steals in Friday's victory over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo stole second and third base in the second inning of the contest to give him 18 steals on the season, good for fourth in the American League. After a torrid start to the season batting .333 in the month of April, Mateo has cooled down considerably. The 27-year-old hit an atrocious .128 in May with just two extra-base hits, and over his last 30 games has an underwhelming .151/.175/.183 slash line.
Jun 8 2023Mateo is absent from the lineup for Thursday's tilt in Milwaukee, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a routine day off for Mateo after he had started each of the previous 14 contests. Gunnar Henderson will play shortstop Thursday.
Jun 4 2023Mateo went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo picked up his first multi-hit effort since April 27 in this contest. The steal was also his first in seven games, as he's had few opportunities to run after hitting just .128 in May. A strong start to the season has propped up his slash line at .234/.276/.389 for the year. He's at 16 steals, six home runs, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored, and with high-end speed, he should maintain some fantasy interest as long as he's the Orioles' starting shortstop.
May 30 2023Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that Mateo is an option to play some center field while Cedric Mullins (groin) is out, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's defense at shortstop is his best asset right now as he struggles at the plate, so it seems doubtful he'd be used on a regular basis in center field. He does have past experience at the position, although he hasn't played there since 2021.
May 28 2023Mateo went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hit was just his third in his last eight starts, a stretch in which Mateo is batting a woeful .103 (3-for-39), but he's still managed to swipe two of his 15 bags on the season despite his infrequent presence on base. The 27-year-old's red-hot April has given way to a .111/.156/.125 May, and Mateo seems like he could lose his starting spot at shortstop at any moment, especially with Jordan Westburg continuing to light it up at Triple-A.
May 21 2023Mateo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has a .109/.138/.127 slash line and 30.5 percent strikeout rate through 16 games in May and will head to the bench Sunday. Joey Ortiz will take over at shortstop and bat ninth in the series finale at Toronto.
May 20 2023Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo missed a game with leg soreness earlier in the week, but it can't be bothering him too much if he can still be a threat on the basepaths. He's had limited opportunities to run lately with a paltry .148 on-base percentage across 15 contests in May. His hot start to the season has propped up his slash line at a respectable .252/.296/.447 through 38 games, but it's concerning to see the speedster slip back to his old ways at the plate. He's added 14 steals, six home runs, 22 RBI and 26 runs scored this season.
May 18 2023Mateo (leg) is back in the Orioles' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Angels, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo sat out Wednesday due to some nagging leg soreness, but he's back in there for Thursday's afternoon tilt. He'll be at shortstop and bat seventh against Tyler Anderson.
May 17 2023Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Angels due to leg soreness but is expected back for Thursday's series finale, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The leg soreness is apparently something that's been nagging Mateo for a couple weeks, and it would stand to reason that the issue has been a factor in him posting a .292 OPS so far this month. With a day game on tap Thursday, it makes sense for the Orioles to rest him Wednesday rather than having him play two games in quick succession. Joey Ortiz will fill in at shortstop Wednesday.
May 16 2023Mateo went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday's 9-5 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His walk Monday was his first time on base in his last five games. With his bat slumping, Mateo could be at risk of seeing his playing time slip. Despite an 0-for-16 skid, he's still slashing .259/.309/.473 with 13 steals, six home runs, 20 RBI and 24 runs scored through 35 contests. His defense is also strong enough to keep him in the mix at shortstop.
May 14 2023Mateo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started the past five games and will head to the bench after going 1-for-18 during that stretch. The 27-year-old had a 1.062 OPS in his first 24 games of the season, but he's struggled to a .105/.128/.132 slash line through 11 contests in May. Joey Ortiz is taking over at shortstop in Sunday's series finale.
May 7 2023Mateo stole a base as a pinch runner in Sunday's 3-2 extra-innings loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo ran for Anthony Santander in the 10th inning and stole second, but he was left on base. Off days have been rare for Mateo this season, and it's for good reason -- he's slashing .304/.353/.565 through 29 contests. He's added 12 steals on 14 tries, six home runs, 19 RBI and 24 runs scored through 105 plate appearances.
May 5 2023Mateo is batting leadoff and playing shortstop for the Orioles on Friday in Atlanta, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first time Mateo has ever batted leadoff for the Orioles and just the third time during his time with the club that he's batted higher than fifth. He's earned it, of course, in putting up a robust .968 OPS this season. Austin Hays has mostly batted leadoff lately versus lefties, but he's out with a finger injury.
Apr 30 2023Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo provided an insurance run when he took Chasen Shreve deep in the ninth inning. During his seven-game hitting streak, Mateo has gone 8-for-25 (.320) with three long balls and two stolen bases. The shortstop is up to six homers, 10 steals, 17 RBI, 21 runs scored and an excellent .347/.395/.667 slash line through 83 plate appearances this season.
Apr 27 2023Mateo went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored in Thursday's 7-4 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is one of seven players in the majors with 10 steals already on the year. He's hit safely in his last four games, going 5-for-14 with five runs scored in that span. For the season, the shortstop is slashing .361/.406/.639 with four home runs, 13 RBI, 18 runs scored and five doubles through 71 plate appearances. There's a chance newly-promoted prospect Joey Ortiz snags some playing time at shortstop, but it's tough to see Mateo's bat coming out of the lineup much when he's hitting well.
Apr 4 2023Mateo went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Tuesday's victory over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo chased Andrew Heaney with a two-run homer in the third that helped Texas build a 7-1 lead. That's the second homer in as many days for the infielder, who also has already stolen four bases over the first five games. It goes without saying, but more play like this will help Mateo stick as the starting shortstop for Baltimore in 2023.
Apr 3 2023Mateo (hand) will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy infielder is back in action after he was held out of Sunday's 9-5 loss to the Red Sox with a minor laceration on his right hand. Mateo's free-swinging approach will likely make him a liability in the batting-average category this season, but so long as he stays healthy and sticks in an everyday role, he should be a leading contender for MLB's stolen-base crown. He's already gone a perfect 4-for-4 in steal attempts through his first two games of the young season.
Apr 2 2023Mateo (hand) is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo cut his hand during Saturday's loss to the Red Sox, so he'll begin this contest on the bench. Gunnar Henderson will play shortstop for the series finale with Ramon Urias at third and Adam Frazier at second base.
Apr 1 2023Mateo went 0-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases in Saturday's loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Orioles have been running rampant against the Red Sox in the first two games of the series -- they've already picked up 10 steals as a team. Mateo has four of them, as he's swiped two bags in back-to-back games. There's very little offensive upside in the other categories, but Mateo should again be a major contributor with steals because of his impressive speed.
Mar 30 2023Mateo went 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases, one RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 10-9 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo attempted only one steal over 17 Grapefruit League games while slashing .273/.333/.386 during the exhibition season. The shortstop had 35 steals in 2022, so it's not a huge surprise to see him active on the basepaths, especially with new rules incentivizing steals. The bigger issue for Mateo may be getting on base -- he hit .221 with a .267 on-base percentage last season. The 27-year-old should at least see a majority of the starts at shortstop to begin the campaign. He's a strong defender, though a ninth-inning error Thursday made this game closer than it had to be.
Mar 16 2023Mateo is hitting .217 (5-for-23) through nine Grapefruit League games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's got two things going for him -- defense and speed, though he's yet to attempt a steal in spring training. The shortstop went 35-for-44 on the basepaths in 2022, though his .221/.267/.379 slash line didn't inspire much confidence. He opens 2023 atop the depth chart at shortstop, but a cold spell at the plate could see him slip into a short-side platoon role if Gunnar Henderson, Ramon Urias and Adam Frazier are all hitting well. Mateo should still get his looks for steals, but he's never posted an OPS higher than .670 in the majors, so he can't be counted on for a ton of category coverage.
Jan 13 2023Mateo signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Orioles on Friday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's glove established him as Baltimore's everyday shortstop in 2022, but his poor .221/.267/.379 slash line makes him vulnerable to losing his spot to top prospect Gunnar Henderson. He has experience playing all over the field, so he'll more than likely transition into a utility role, but it's still not worth counting on him to significantly improve at the plate.
Oct 4 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in Monday's 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With his third-inning pilfer, Mateo moved one ahead of teammate Cedric Mullins for the American League league in stolen bases with 35. Mateo's first full season in the majors has been a mixed bag -- he's flashed some power in addition to his speed but also been extremely streaky, leaving him with a .221/.267/.379 slash line through 524 plate appearances. The 27-year-old should get a chance to develop some consistency to go along with his tools in 2023, but it's not clear whether that chance will come at shortstop or another position as the O's try to find a defensive home for top prospect Gunnar Henderson.
Sep 27 2022Mateo went 1-for-2 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 13-9 loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo didn't start Tuesday, but he entered the game as part of a defensive shift when Ramon Urias (knee) exited. The steal was Mateo's 34th of the year, three back of Miami's Jon Berti for the major-league lead. Mateo is 5-for-17 (.294) during his five-game hitting streak, and he's now slashing .222/.267/.386 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 61 runs scored, 24 doubles and seven triples through 142 contests. Mateo should close out the campaign as the Orioles' primary shortstop.
Sep 23 2022Mateo went 1-for-2 with two steals in Friday's 6-0 win over Houston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo swiped second and third base after singling in the sixth inning. He was also caught stealing once and has now stolen an American League-leading 33 bags in 42 attempts. The 27-year-old is slashing .220/.266/.385 with 42 extra-base hits and 57 runs this season. However, Mateo is hitting just .136 (6-for-44) over 15 games since his last multi-hit performance Sep. 3.
Sep 21 2022Mateo stole a base and scored a run as a pinch runner in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo entered the game in the eighth inning after Terrin Vavra got aboard with a single. Prior to Wednesday, Mateo had hit .135 over his last 11 games without recording a steal in that span. He's up to 31 thefts in 39 tries this year while adding a .220/.267/.388 slash line, 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 57 runs scored, seven triples and 22 doubles through 135 contests. He's sat out two of the last five games amid his recent slump at the plate, but he's still likely to see most of the reps at shortstop.
Sep 17 2022Mateo isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started the last five games but went just 3-for-18 with a home run, two RBI and six strikeouts. Gunnar Henderson is starting at shortstop and batting fifth Saturday.
Sep 14 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo took a first pitch slider from reliever Mason Thompson over the fence to left for his 13th home run on the season. The home run was Mateo's first in 20 games dating back to Aug. 20, a period in which he was slashing a meager .188/.221/.297 line through 68 plate appearances entering Wednesday. The 27-year-old's .222 average on the season has been tough to stomach, but with 13 long balls to go along with 30 stolen bases, he has still proven valuable in category leagues.
Sep 9 2022Mateo isn't starting Friday against the Red Sox, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started the last two games and went 1-for-6 with a triple, two runs, a walk and two strikeouts. Gunnar Henderson will take over at shortstop and bat fifth Friday.
Sep 5 2022Mateo isn't starting the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started at shortstop during the first game of Monday's twin bill and went 0-for-3. He'll take a seat for the nightcap while Gunnar Henderson starts at shortstop and bats fifth.
Sep 4 2022Mateo went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-0 loss to the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo became the second player in the majors with 30 steals this season, swiping second base after his fifth-inning walk. While he's been caught stealing eight times, Mateo continues to offer premium speed as the American League leader in steals. He's also posted 21 doubles and six triples through 124 contests this year. The shortstop has gone 5-for-22 (.227) with two walks in his last seven games, right in line with his season numbers. The 27-year-old is slashing .228/.277/.396 with 12 home runs, 45 RBI and 53 runs scored across 443 plate appearances.
Sep 3 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the steal -- his first since Aug. 23 -- Mateo joined Orioles teammate Cedric Mullins atop the American League leaderboard with 29. Both Baltimore speedsters are three back of Miami's Jon Berti for the major-league lead. Mateo hasn't had many chances to run of late since he's gone just 6-for-34 (.176) with one walk in his last 10 contests. The slump has dropped his slash line back to .229/.276/.398 with 12 home runs, 45 RBI and 53 runs scored through 123 contests. He's served primarily as the Orioles' starting shortstop this year, though Mateo may cycle out of the lineup on occasion if manager Brandon Hyde wants to see how top prospect Gunnar Henderson handles the position.
Sep 1 2022Mateo isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Guardians, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is getting a breather after he hit just .087 with a double, a walk and eight strikeouts over the last eight games. Gunnar Henderson is taking over at shortstop and batting fifth.
Aug 23 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and an RBI in a 5-3 win Tuesday over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo drove in a run with a single and stole second base in the seventh inning. It was his 28th stolen base of the season and first since August 11. The 27-year-old has exploded in August, posting a .338/.390/.606 line with 10 extra-base hits and 17 RBI in 20 contests. After striking out in 32.5 percent of his first 277 plate appearances, the shortstop has struck out in just 18.8 percent of his last 133 trips to the plate.
Aug 22 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with a three-run double in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo provided the pivotal play of the night in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa., stepping to the plate in a 2-2 game with one out in the eighth inning and the bases juiced to deliver his 38th extra-base knock of the season. Due to his poor .283 on-base percentage, Mateo should continue to hit near the bottom of the Baltimore lineup, but his combination of power hitting and speed (27 stolen bases in 34 attempts on the season) makes him worthy of a roster spot even in most shallow leagues.
Aug 19 2022Mateo went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Friday's 15-10 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo provided the Orioles' first runs of the game with his second-inning blast off Kutter Crawford. He had a hot start to August, but Mateo's now gone seven games without a multi-hit effort as it appears he's cooled off again. For the season, he's slashing .228/.278/.402 with 12 homers, 39 RBI, 50 runs scored and 27 stolen bases through 111 contests.
Aug 12 2022Mateo went 5-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-3 win over Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo knocked two RBI hits against Corey Kluber, including a second-inning double. Over his last 25 games, the 27-year-old has gone 30-for-89 (.337) with 15 extra-base hits and 10 multi-hit performances. He's boosted his slash line to .230/.277/.404 through 370 plate appearances.
Aug 7 2022Mateo went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-1 loss to the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo had half of the Orioles' hits as well as their lone run, a third-inning blast off Pirates starter Bryse Wilson. Through six games in August, Mateo has gone 7-for-20 (.350) with three homers, two steals, eight RBI and seven runs scored. He's up to a .220/.270/.396 slash line, 11 long balls, 26 stolen bases, 34 RBI and 44 runs scored in 100 contests overall, with his speed and defense keeping him as a regular presence in the lineup.
Aug 4 2022Mateo went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Two of the top three base-stealers play for Baltimore, with Mateo (26) and Cedric Mullins (23) trailing only Miami's Jon Berti's (groin) major-league-leading 28. In his last 11 games, Mateo's provided a more well-rounded line with three home runs, four steals, eight RBI and eight runs scored. He's batted .297 in that span to lift his season average to .216 through 97 contests overall.
Aug 2 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo opened and closed the Orioles' scoring Tuesday. He hit a three-run blast in the third inning and added insurance with a two-run homer in the ninth. This was his first game with multiple homers in his major-league career. The shortstop is up to 10 long balls, 32 RBI, 40 runs scored, 25 stolen bases and a .218/.264/.392 slash line through 96 contests. While his season batting average isn't impressive, Mateo has hit .313 (21-for-67) in his last 20 games.
Jul 30 2022Mateo isn't starting Saturday against the Reds, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started the last four games and went 4-for-14 with a home run, a triple, a double, two runs, a steal and seven strikeouts. Ramon Urias will shift to shortstop while Tyler Nevin starts at third base.
Jul 28 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo had the Orioles' lone extra-base hit of the contest, a one-out solo shot in the bottom of the ninth inning to force an extra frame. The shortstop's .215/.264/.370 slash line for the season is nothing special, but he's lifted those marks to .279/.328/.508 with two homers, five stolen bases, eight RBI, 12 runs scored, two triples and four doubles through 21 games in July. On the year, he's racked up 24 steals, eight long balls, 26 RBI and 37 runs scored while regularly batting at the bottom of the order.
Jul 26 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo hit an eighth-inning double, stole third and scored on a Trey Mancini sacrifice fly. In his last 11 games, Mateo has gone 13-for-38 (.342) with three steals, a home run, three RBI and seven runs scored. The shortstop is 24-for-28 in stolen base attempts this year while adding seven home runs, 25 RBI, 36 runs scored and a .212/.261/.358 slash line in 90 contests. He's already secured a near-everyday role, but if the increased consistency at the plate sticks, it would make him a more reliable player rather than a pure speed threat in fantasy.
Jul 25 2022Mateo will sit Monday against the Rays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will get a day off after he went 4-for-12 with a double, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in the three game series with the Yankees. The shortstop has secured at least one hit in eight of his past nine contests, batting .343 over that stretch. Jonathan Arauz will replace him at shortstop and bat ninth Monday against Tampa Bay.
Jul 24 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's RBI single in the seventh inning tied the game at 3-3. The shortstop was also brought home twice in the contest on a single and a sacrifice fly, both from Cedric Mullins. Mateo is starting to hit better, going 11-for-31 (.355) in his last eight games, with six extra-base hits in that span. The speedster has a .210/.261/.357 slash line with seven homers, 23 steals, 25 RBI and 35 runs scored through 309 plate appearances.
Jul 12 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 4-2 win against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo singled and stole second in the fourth inning and added a valuable insurance run with a solo shot in the seventh. After going just 2-for-19 through his first nine games of July, the 27-year-old has batted 4-for-8 since and moved alone into second on the MLB leaderboard with his 22nd theft. Through 81 games, Mateo is slashing .202/.254/.346 with seven home runs, 31 runs and 23 RBI.
Jul 9 2022Mateo isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Angels, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started in the last five games and went 2-for-15 with three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. He'll get a breather while Ramon Urias shifts to shortstop with Tyler Nevin starting at third base.
Jul 8 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has logged two steals in his last three games since it was revealed he was dealing with a sore left quad. The 27-year-old clearly isn't too hampered by it when running, as he's up to 21 stolen bases this season and he hasn't been caught stealing since June 14. He's added a .194/.249/.320 slash line through 275 plate appearances this year while regularly hitting at the bottom of the order.
Jul 6 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 10-9 extra-inning win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is reportedly playing through a sore left quadriceps, but it didn't slow him down Tuesday. He led off the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning before stealing second and scoring on a Cedric Mullins double. The steal was Mateo's 20th of the year, though it was also his first since June 24. Only Miami's Jon Berti (25) and Seattle rookie Julio Rodriguez (21) have more steals than Mateo this year. The 27-year-old has added six home runs, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored, 10 doubles and two triples, though he still has a lackluster .195/.252/.325 slash line in 75 contests. Since he's nursing an injury, it wouldn't be surprising to see Mateo receive rest some time this week.
Jul 5 2022Mateo will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Tuesday's game against the Rangers, even though he's dealing with a sore left quadriceps, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The injury could result in Mateo getting a day off later this week, but he evidently checked out fine during his pregame workout Tuesday and was cleared to stick in the lineup for the second game in a row. Mateo's speed is his top tool, but he hasn't even attempted a steal in any of his last nine games. He's at least provided two home runs over that span to salvage some fantasy value, though he batted just .174.
Jul 3 2022Mateo is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A 2-for-18 skid over his last eight games has brought Mateo's season line down to .196/.248/.329. He has 19 stolen bases and will make highlight plays at shortstop on occasion, but his struggles at the dish may finally start affecting his playing time. Richie Martin starts at shortstop in Mateo's absence.
Jun 28 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 9-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has gone yard twice in his last three games, and he now has six homers on the year. He's shown decent pop for a shortstop with a .140 ISO in 68 contests. The 27-year-old is slashing .201/.250/.341 with 19 stolen bases, 18 RBI and 24 runs scored across 246 plate appearances, and he's taken on a near-everyday role this year.
Jun 26 2022Mateo went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk and three runs scored in a 6-2 win over the White Sox on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo isn't known for his power bat, but the speedster had an excellent night at the plate with two extra-base hits, including his fifth home run of the season. The No. 9 hitter has a paltry .583 OPS this season, but he is 19-for-22 in steal attempts and is tied for the second-most stolen bases in MLB.
Jun 25 2022Mateo went 0-for-2 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, two stolen bases and a run scored in Friday's 4-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has gone a poor 3-for-30 over his last 10 games, but he's still found a way to rack up five stolen bases in that span. The shortstop is up to 19 steals in 22 attempts this year. The weak hitting lately has dropped his season slash line to .196/.241/.311 with four home runs, 16 RBI and 20 runs scored in 65 contests overall.
Jun 19 2022Mateo went 0-for-2 with a stolen base during Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo wasn't able to generate much offensive production during Sunday's low-scoring matchup, but he stole his 17th base of the season. The 26-year-old has hit just .063 with an RBI and five strikeouts over the last five games, but he ranks third in the majors with 17 stolen bases to begin the season.
Jun 15 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran speedster ran wild in the sixth inning as he took advantage of the battery of Trevor Richards and rookie catcher Gabriel Moreno to collect his 15th and 16th steals of the year. Mateo is one behind Julio Rodriguez for the major-league lead in the category, but he's added very little fantasy value otherwise with a .214/.249/.344 slash line, four homers, 15 RBI and 18 runs through 56 games.
Jun 12 2022Mateo is not in Sunday's lineup against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is 2-for-25 with 12 strikeouts in nine games this month. While Mateo is a strong defender, he could lose out on everyday playing time if he can't get out of this slump. Richie Martin is starting at shortstop and batting ninth.
Jun 10 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has now hit safely and scored a run in back-to-back games since snapping an 0-for-13 skid to start June. The shortstop also picked up his first steal since May 28 in the third inning. He's posted a .212/.242/.352 slash line with four home runs, 15 RBI, 16 runs scored and 14 stolen bases through 52 games this year.
Jun 7 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo's second-inning blast would be all the offense the Orioles needed, giving them a 5-1 lead at the time. He had gone 0-for-13 in his first five games in June prior to the long ball Tuesday. The shortstop is up to a .210/.240/.352 slash line with four homers, 15 RBI, 15 runs scored and 13 stolen bases through 51 contests.
Jun 2 2022Mateo isn't starting Thursday against the Mariners, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started in the last five games and went 6-for-19 with a triple, two doubles, a stolen base and five strikeouts. Chris Owings will take over at shortstop and bat ninth.
May 28 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in a 4-2 win over the Red Sox in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo sat out Game 1 for rest, but he was back in the lineup at shortstop for the nightcap. The shortstop picked up his fourth steal in his last 11 games, swiping third base after a third-inning double. His 13 steals this season trail only Julio Rodriguez for the major-league lead. Mateo is slashing .208/.244/.336 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored, eight doubles and a triple in 157 plate appearances.
May 27 2022Mateo went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run during Friday's 12-8 win against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo came to the plate with two on and one out during the seventh inning, and he delivered with a three-run home run to start the comeback and bring Baltimore within three runs. Despite hitting his third home run of the season, the 1-for-5 effort dropped the 26-year-old's average to .207, and he's also struck out 15 times in his past 10 games.
May 25 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 7-6 extra-innings loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The pilfer moved Mateo into a tie with rookie Julio Rodriguez for the major-league lead in steals with 12. Mateo hasn't made much of a fantasy impact this season otherwise, slashing .213/.252/.324 through 39 games with two homers, nine RBI and 13 runs while mainly hitting toward the bottom of a lackluster Baltimore lineup.
May 23 2022Mateo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll cede shortstop duties to Chris Owings as the Orioles begin a seven-game week with a three-game set in New York. Mateo is getting a breather after a rough weekend series against the Rays in which he went hitless in 14 at-bats, bringing his season average down to .212.
May 19 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored during Thursday's 9-6 win over the Yankees. He struck out twice. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the third and proceed to steal second base, his 11th of the season. The shortstop also reached on catcher's interference in the sixth and came around to score on a Cedric Mullins sacrifice fly. Mateo is only hitting .237 to start the season, but his 11 steals are tied with Julio Rodriguez for the most in the majors.
May 18 2022Mateo (shoulder) is starting Wednesday against the Yankees, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was out of the lineup for the last two games due to chest and shoulder contusions, but he'll start at shortstop and bat seventh Wednesday. Over his last five games, he's gone 4-for-17 with a homer, a double, two runs and a stolen base.
May 17 2022Mateo (shoulder/chest) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: On a positive note, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports that Mateo said his sore left shoulder is feeling better Tuesday, but the Orioles wanted to give the infielder at least one more day to heal. Mateo is still scheduled to take batting practice with the rest of his teammates, which bodes well for his chances of re-entering the lineup Wednesday. Ramon Urias will pick up a start at shortstop in place of Mateo on Tuesday.
May 16 2022Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't ruled out using Mateo (shoulder) off the bench for Monday's series opener with the Yankees, and the infielder could be ready to rejoin the lineup Tuesday or Wednesday, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Earlier Monday, Mateo suggested his absence from the lineup was precautionary after he collided with the Tigers' Spencer Torkelson in Sunday's loss to Detroit, resulting in his removal from the contest. X-rays cleared Mateo of any structural damage, but he was diagnosed with rib-cage and left shoulder discomfort after checking out of the game. According to Connelly, Mateo's shoulder is still a bit sore, but the injury doesn't sound like anything that will result in a trip to the injured list for the 26-year-old, who is tied for the MLB lead with 10 stolen bases.
May 15 2022Mateo was diagnosed with chest and shoulder contusions after X-rays came back negative Sunday, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old suffered the injury during Sunday's matchup with Detroit when he collided with first baseman Spencer Torkelson while trying to bunt for a base hit, but it appears he's avoided any serious issues. Mateo should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus the Yankees.
May 14 2022Mateo isn't starting Saturday against Detroit, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak in which he's hit .286 with two homers, a triple, two doubles, six runs, three RBI and three steals. However, he'll get a breather while Chris Owings starts at shortstop and bats ninth.
May 12 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo opened the scoring with a second-inning blast. That was the Orioles' lone run until Anthony Bemboom went yard in the seventh. Mateo isn't one to hit for much power, but he's swatted both of his homers this season in his last seven games. The versatile 26-year-old is up to a .243/.277/.383 slash line with eight RBI, 12 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 113 plate appearances.
May 11 2022Mateo will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Originally scheduled to receive Wednesday's game off, Mateo will enter the starting nine after the Orioles scratched Ryan Mountcastle (undisclosed). Mateo will put a six-game hitting streak on the lineup in the penultimate game of the series in St. Louis.
May 9 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 6-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo sparked the Orioles' fifth-inning rally with an RBI single before stealing second and scoring on a Trey Mancini single. This extended Mateo's hitting streak to five games, and he's gone 6-for-19 (.316) in that span. The 26-year-old owns a .242/.280/.358 slash line with nine steals, a home run, seven RBI and 10 runs scored through 28 contests.
May 8 2022Mateo went 2-for-8 with a stolen base and a run scored across both games of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo is now 5-for-15 across his last four games after recording a single in both of Sunday's contests. The shortstop is up to eight stolen bases in 27 games this season. He's added a .242/.281/.363 slash line with a home run, six RBI, nine runs scored, a triple and six doubles. The speed is a plus, but there's very little power in his bat.
May 5 2022Mateo went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a triple in a 5-3 win Thursday over Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo tied the game 3-3 with a leadoff homer in the fifth inning and added a two-out triple in the seventh. After having only one multi-hit game in April, he has two in May and is 5-for-18 with four extra-base hits to start the month. The speedy shortstop hasn't hit for much power in the big leagues but did have as many as 19 homers in a season in the minors. If he's able to hit for some power to go along with his stolen base skills, he could be a valuable piece for the Orioles moving forward.
May 1 2022Mateo went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run during Sunday's 9-5 win against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old came up with the bases loaded and no outs during the sixth inning delivered with a two-run double, and he came around to score two batters later. The double was Mateo's fifth extra-base hit of the season and only his second multi-hit game. He doesn't provide much pop with a .246/.297/.318 slash line and zero homers through 21 contests, though his baserunning brings some value as he ranks second in MLB with seven stolen bases while being caught only once.
Apr 30 2022Mateo isn't starting Saturday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started in the last eight games but hit just .179 with two doubles, a run, four stolen bases, a walk and 10 strikeouts. He'll get a day off while Chris Owings starts at shortstop and bats ninth.
Apr 24 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in a 7-6 loss Sunday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo doubled and stole third base in the sixth inning but was left stranded. The shortstop has stolen a base in three straight games and leads baseball with seven swipes. The 26-year-old moved up to seventh in the Orioles' lineup after hitting eighth or ninth in most of the games this season.
Apr 22 2022Mateo went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases in Friday's 5-3 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo got aboard with a fielder's choice and a single in this contest, and he stole a base each time. The 26-year-old has maintained a fairly regular role in the lineup, though he's often hit in the bottom third of the order. He's up to five stolen bases with a .250/.313/.295 slash line, three RBI, three runs scored and a pair of doubles through 13 games. Mateo also hasn't drawn a walk in nine contests after earning four free passes in his first four games this season.
Apr 20 2022Mateo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo started in the last six games and hit .304 with a double, two RBI, a run, a stolen base and eight strikeouts. Chris Owings will start at shortstop and bat ninth.
Apr 17 2022Mateo went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three of Mateo's hits were singles, including one in the eighth inning that plated Kelvin Gutierrez. Mateo hasn't been afraid to show off his speed in 2022, recording three stolen bases in his first nine games. He's played primarily at shortstop, posting a .267/.353/.300 slash line with three RBI and three runs scored through 35 plate appearances.
Apr 12 2022Mateo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will get his first day off of the season, enabling utility man Chris Owings to pick up a start at shortstop. The 26-year-old speedster has thus far proven to be a bargain for those in deeper mixed leagues who snagged him with a late-round pick. Over his first four starts, Mateo has slashed .250/.438/.333 with two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI.
Apr 11 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 2-0 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was involved in the lone scoring play of the game. He walked and stole second before coming home on a two-run single by Cedric Mullins in the second inning. Mateo's already stolen two bases in four games while going 3-for-12 with three walks in four games. If he can maintain his strong on-base skills and speed, he should continue to see a starting role at shortstop.
Apr 9 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a run, a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's loss versus the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop reached base twice for the second consecutive game, adding a stolen base in the third inning before later driving in teammate Ramon Urias on a ninth inning ground-rule double off of Andrew Kittredge. After being let go by the Padres, Mateo slashed .280/.328/.421 with two homers, 10 RBI and five stolen bases in 32 games with the Orioles last season and he'll look to keep it up as the 2022 campaign is officially underway.
Apr 8 2022Mateo went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo won the starting shortstop job in spring training, and he was one of two Orioles to reach base multiple times Friday. The 26-year-old is versatile enough to play in a variety of positions, but having a starting role boosts his profile in fantasy as long as he maintains his place in the lineup. Mateo slashed a mediocre .247/.293/.376 with four home runs, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 89 games between the Padres and the Orioles last season. Should he enter a slump, veteran utility man Chris Owings could push him for playing time in 2022.
Apr 6 2022Mateo (hand) took full batting practice Wednesday and should be fully cleared in advance of Friday's season opener versus Tampa Bay, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After sitting out Monday with a side issue, Mateo was cleared to return to the lineup for the Orioles' spring finale Tuesday against the Blue Jays, only to exit early after he was struck on the right hand by a pitch. Fortunately, Mateo avoided any structural damage to his hand, and his ability to take full batting practice a day later suggests he's not experiencing too much soreness, either. Manager Brandon Hyde hasn't confirmed that Mateo will be the Orioles' Opening Day shortstop, but he certainly earned the job on the heels of his magnificent spring. The 26-year-old went 8-for-21 with six extra-base hits (two home runs, four doubles) and two walks against two strikeouts while going 1-for-2 on stolen-base attempts. That sort of power production probably won't be sustainable in the regular season, but the speedy Mateo should have the green light to run regularly for an Orioles squad that could struggle to manufacture runs.
Apr 5 2022Mateo was removed in the fifth inning of Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays after being hit on the right hand by a pitch, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Midsection soreness prevented Mateo from playing Monday against the Pirates, but the infielder was cleared to start a day later after follow-up tests revealed nothing overly concerning. Mateo resumed his red-hot spring by doubling off Alek Manoah in his first at-bat, but the 26-year-old could be dealing with a new injury concern just three days before Opening Day. The Orioles will hope that Mateo is just dealing with bruising or soreness on his hand, but he could be sent in for a precautionary X-ray to ensure he didn't suffer any structural damage.
Apr 4 2022Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Mateo is battling stomach soreness, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hyde noted that the Orioles don't believe Mateo is dealing with any sort of oblique injury, but the 26-year-old will be sent in for further testing before his availability for Opening Day is determined. Mateo looks set to feature frequently at shortstop this season, though his .236/.281/.364 slash line through his first 237 career MLB plate appearances means he's no lock to keep the job.
Mar 30 2022Mateo went 2-for-3 with a home run -- his second of the spring -- and a base hit Wednesday in the Orioles' Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was expected to compete for a utility role at the onset of camp, but he may have cemented himself as the frontrunner for the Orioles' Opening Day shortstop job by this point. According to Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com, manager Brandon Hyde said earlier Wednesday that he intended to stock the lineup with regular players for the final week of spring training, so Mateo's inclusion in the starting nine against the Blue Jays is seemingly a good sign of where he stands with the Orioles. Mateo, who entered Wednesday with an 1.035 OPS to go along with one stolen base through seven spring games, continued to build on that performance with another two-hit effort. Though Mateo committed his second error of the spring when he dropped a popout, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun notes that the 26-year-old atoned for the gaffe by making two potential run-saving plays in the field. Mateo has typically hit out of bottom half of the order in most of his starts this spring, but that shouldn't put too much of a limit on his running opportunities while he's part of an Orioles lineup that could struggle to generate runs.
Sep 14 2021Mateo will miss the remainder of the season after being placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday with right lumbar inflammation. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo missed last Friday's game with unspecified soreness, and it's possible the lumbar injury is related to that previous issue. Mateo showed promise in his 32 games with Baltimore to finish his 2021 campaign, going 30-for-107 with seven doubles, one triple, two homers and five stolen bases. His defensive versatility should help him find a substantial role with the Orioles to begin next season.
Sep 11 2021Mateo (undisclosed) is starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo remained out of the lineup for Saturday's matinee as he continued to deal with soreness, but he'll start at shortstop and bat sixth in the nightcap. He went 3-for-17 with two RBI, a stolen base and a walk in the five appearances prior to his absence.
Sep 10 2021Manager Brandon Hyde said that Mateo is not in the lineup Friday against the Blue Jays because he is dealing with soreness, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The skipper didn't go into depth about the nature of the soreness, but it doesn't sound like an issue that will sideline Mateo for more than a game or two. Richie Martin is filling in at shortstop Friday.
Sep 8 2021Mateo went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 7-3 win over Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedy infielder has been a solid addition to Baltimore's lineup since he was claimed off waivers in early August. Mateo has gone just 5-for-8 in stolen base attempts with his new team, but he's also posted a .292/.343/.448 slash line with a pair of home runs, eight RBI, eight runs scored, a triple and seven doubles. He's gotten on base in seven straight games and should continue to see a regular role in the middle infield.
Sep 3 2021Mateo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 4-3 extra-innings loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder tied the game at 2-2 with his seventh-inning blast, which was his second homer as an Oriole. Mateo is up to four long balls, 12 RBI, 18 runs scored and nine stolen bases while slashing .262/.307/.411 across 180 plate appearances this year. He's found a regular role as Baltimore's starting shortstop lately, pushing Ramon Urias to third base and Kelvin Gutierrez to the bench against southpaws.
Aug 30 2021Mateo went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Sunday in the Orioles' 12-8 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was idle for a few days last week due to left hip and lower-back discomfort, but he returned with a bang for the final two games of the series with Tampa Bay, going 3-for-9 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base between the contests. Since being claimed off waivers from San Diego on Aug. 5, Mateo has emerged as a cornerstone piece in the Baltimore infield. In 19 games with his new team, Mateo is slashing .353/.380/.515 with eight extra-base hits, four steals, five runs and five RBI.
Aug 28 2021Mateo (back/hip) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a three-game absence, Mateo drew the start at second base and put together a pair of singles, including a run-scoring knock in the sixth inning. He also picked up his ninth steal earlier in the game, his fourth theft in 18 games since joining the Orioles in early August. Mateo has made the most of his opportunity in Baltimore, slashing .365/.394/.492 with seven multi-hit efforts in 66 plate appearances.
Aug 27 2021Mateo (back/hip) is out of the lineup Friday against the Rays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will be sidelined for the third straight contest after exiting Tuesday's game with soreness in his hip and lower back. According to Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com, the 26-year-old's condition has improved, and he may be able to retake the field this weekend. Ramon Urias will once again move to shortstop while Kelvin Gutierrez starts at third base.
Aug 26 2021Mateo (back/hip) isn't starting Thursday against the Angels, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo exited Tuesday's game due to lower-back and hip soreness, and he'll remain out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Ramon Urias will shift to shortstop while Kelvin Gutierrez takes over at the hot corner.
Aug 25 2021Mateo (back/hip) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo will head to the bench after lower-back and hip soreness knocked him out of Tuesday's 14-8 loss. Before departing, Mateo was in the midst of another nice day at the dish, as he went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a walk. Ramon Urias and Jahmai Jones will pick up starts at shortstop and second base, respectively, while Mateo sits.
Aug 24 2021Mateo was removed from Tuesday's game against the Angels with lower-back discomfort, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo went 2-for-2 with a walk before being replaced in the field at the start of the seventh inning. The severity of the injury is unclear, and the 26-year-old should be considered day-to-day until his status is updated.
Aug 21 2021Mateo isn't starting Saturday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has been hot at the plate recently, as he's hit .357 with five doubles, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base during his current 11-game hitting streak. Ramon Urias will shift to second base while Richie Martin takes over at shortstop.
Aug 16 2021Mateo went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has settled into an everyday role in the middle infield for Baltimore since he was claimed off waivers Aug. 5, and he's done little to dissuade manager Brandon Hyde from keeping him out of the lineup. The 26-year-old is currently in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, but since he's still maintaining a 28.7 percent strikeout rate on the season, fantasy managers shouldn't bank on Mateo being anything more than a neutral contributor in the batting-average category. Instead, most of Mateo's value will likely come from his top-flight speed. He's already collected three steals during his time in Baltimore and owns an 8-for-9 success rate over only 129 big-league plate appearances on the season.
Aug 13 2021Mateo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and two strikeouts in Thursday's 6-4 loss to Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the second-inning theft, Mateo is now 3-for-4 in stolen bases attempts in just six games with Baltimore. The speedy utility man has also struck out at a 29.2 percent clip in that span. His playing style requires him to get on base regularly, so he'll likely need to see an uptick in plate discipline to be more productive. Through 117 plate appearances overall, he's up to eight steals, two home runs, seven RBI and 12 runs scored while slashing .218/.259/.345.
Aug 8 2021Mateo went 0-for-3 with a hit by pitch, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 9-6 loss to Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedster was plunked by Michael Wacha in the second inning, then stole second and scored on a Richie Martin single. Mateo has recorded two steals in has last two games, giving him seven in 60 games between Baltimore and San Diego. As long as he can perform reasonably well at that plate, Mateo should see a large share of playing time at second base over the last two months of the season.
Aug 5 2021Baltimore claimed Mateo off waivers from San Diego on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Before San Diego designated him for assignment Tuesday, Mateo saw limited use as a utility man for the Padres, appearing in 57 games and logging a .207/.250/.322 slash line over 93 plate appearances. Over the final two months of the season, expect the Orioles to give the 26-year-old a look as their everyday second baseman, a position where Baltimore has struggled to get production since Freddy Galvis (quadriceps) landed on the injured list in late June before being traded to the Phillies. Pat Valaika, who had been serving as the Orioles' primary option at the keystone of late, was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man and 26-man rosters for Mateo. Though he owns a lowly .545 OPS over a limited sample of MLB action, Mateo boasts high-end speed and could be a worthy target for fantasy managers in deeper leagues looking for a boost in stolen bases.
Aug 3 2021Mateo was designated for assignment Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had logged just nine at-bats in 10 games since the start of July, operating primarily as a pinch runner and pinch hitter. Mateo has been unable to have success against MLB pitching and is 26, so he may pass through waivers unclaimed.
Jul 19 2021Mateo entered Sunday's loss to the Nationals as a pinch runner and stole two bases in addition to scoring a run. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The speedster ran for Victor Caratini with the Padres trailing by a run in the ninth inning. He promptly stole second base, then swiped third and came around to score the tying run on a Trent Grisham single. Mateo's speed gives him value to the big club, but he hasn't started a game since June 13 and is batting only .200 with a 28.6 percent strikeout rate this season.
Jul 16 2021Mateo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 24-8 win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old was brought into the lopsided contest as a pinch hitter for Manny Machado in the sixth inning. Mateo would put the cherry on top of San Diego's franchise-best run total with his ninth-inning blast. It was just his second homer in 91 plate appearances this year. Mateo has added six RBI, nine runs scored and three stolen bases as a depth option this year.
Jun 11 2021Mateo went 0-for-1 with a stolen base as a pinch hitter in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo reached on a fielder's choice and stole second in the eighth inning. The 25-year-old hasn't seen much more than utility usage yet. He's slashing .205/.247/.288 with a home run, five RBI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases across 78 plate appearances.
May 17 2021Mateo (COVID-19) was activated from the injured list prior to Monday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was forced to the injured list after being listed as a close contact, but he'll be available Monday after a brief absence. He's 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI through five games in May.
May 11 2021Mateo (COVID-19) was a close contact of Fernando Tatis, who tested positive for the virus Tuesday, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Unless he tested positive himself, Mateo figures to return in a few days if he can produce negative tests.
Apr 28 2021Mateo went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's win over Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo connected on a 405-foot shot to left field off Kevin Ginkel in the ninth inning for his first home run as a major-leaguer. The long ball came in his 57th career big-league at-bat. Mateo is off to a slow start overall this season, slashing .226/.314/.387.
Apr 25 2021Mateo stole a base as a pinch runner in Saturday's loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo took over on the basepaths for Luis Campusano in the ninth inning after the latter drew a walk. Mateo stole second to get into scoring position, but the Padres' subsequent hitters couldn't bring him home. The steal was Mateo's first this season. He is slashing .227/.346/.318 through 26 plate appearances.
Apr 8 2021Mateo has gone 4-for-13 to start the season, while earning starts in both left and center field. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has been a beneficiary of Trent Grisham's (hamstring) absence, serving as a fourth outfielder for the Padres to begin the season. He's done well with the opportunity, clubbing two extra-base hits. Grisham is expected to be activated from the injured list Friday, which could further limit Mateo's role .
Mar 30 2021The Padres informed Mateo on Monday that he will be included on the Opening Day roster, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo went just 4-for-28 at the dish during his debut season in the majors in 2020, but he earned his way onto the Opening Day roster after coming through with a .316/.414/.456 slash line and three steals (albeit in six attempts) over 57 at-bats this spring. The 25-year-old's speed and defensive versatility should make him a valuable late-inning bench piece, but he's unlikely to get a look as an everyday player in 2021.
Mar 16 2021Mateo is slashing .393/.500/.571 this spring with four extra-base hits, six RBI and two stolen bases as he vies for one of the Padres' final Opening Day roster spots. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has been mentioned as a candidate to back up Trent Grisham in center field, and that need has become more pressing with Grisham currently out with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. The injury is thought to be minor, but it highlights the desirability of a player with positional flexibility. Mateo logged time at every outfield position and at second base with the Padres last season, and he's also played shortstop in the minors. Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune points out Mateo's considerable speed and lack of minor-league options as additional factors that could help him garner a roster spot. The 25-year-old struggled with a .154/.185/.269 slash line in his first stint as a major-leaguer last season, but it's possible that some of his troubles were linked to a bout with COVID-19 that resulted in Mateo missing most of summer camp. He appears healthy heading into the 2021 campaign.
Sep 3 2020Mateo made his first career start in center field Thursday and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo had logged time in both right field and left field as well as at second base prior to Thursday, and he added center field to the list against the Angels as San Diego elected to give Trent Grisham a breather. Mateo hadn't started a game since Aug. 28, so his versatility may be his primary contribution as he looks to stick on the active roster in spite of a .188 season average.
Aug 14 2020Mateo is expected to log time in both the infield and outfield, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was added to the active roster Thursday and made his big-league debut that night against the Dodgers, starting in left field and going 0-for-3 in his major-league debut. The appearance was his first in left field as a professional, as the 25-year-old's outfield experience was previously limited to 29 minor-league games in center field in 2017. Padres manager Jayce Tingler made it clear that the club envisions Mateo as a versatile defender, stating, "That's why we got him, hopefully to bring some of that athleticism, some of that speed and move him around the field. I'm sure he's going to play a lot of roles going forward."
Aug 13 2020Mateo (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A positive COVID-19 test in summer camp forced Mateo to open the season on the shelf, but he's been cleared to return ahead of Thursday's series finale against the Dodgers. It remains to be seen how the Padres plan to use Mateo out of the gates, but he could push Jurickson Profar -- who is hitting just .173 on the season -- for at-bats.
Aug 12 2020Mateo (COVID-19) was added to the Padres' taxi squad Wednesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was expected to be part of the big-league roster when San Diego acquired him in late June, but he tested positive for COVID-19 early in summer camp and had been working his way back into shape at the team's alternate training site since late July. As part of the taxi squad, Mateo is working out with the Padres during their road visit to Los Angeles, but he cannot participate in games unless he is first moved to the active roster. It remains to be seen when -- or if -- San Diego plans to work Mateo into their infield mix.
Aug 5 2020Mateo (illness) is impressing at the Padres' alternate training site and could be moved to the big-league club soon, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo missed most of summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19, but he has been working out at the team's alternate site and appears close to a promotion to the big-league roster. It is unclear how much playing time Mateo would receive out the gate with Jurickson Profar, Greg Garcia and Jake Cronenworth all vying for time at second base. To make matters more complicated, MLB rosters are sent to be reduced from 30 to 28 on Thursday.
Jul 23 2020Mateo (illness) has cleared all health protocols but remains on the injured list, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo tested positive earlier in the month, and while he's back to full health, the infielder still needs time to get back into game shape. Once he's ready to go, Mateo is a candidate to fill a utility infield role.
Jul 18 2020Mateo (illness) is unlikely to be part of the Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres expected Mateo to contribute to the big-league club right away when they acquired him in a trade at the end of June, but the 25-year-old subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and has yet to be cleared to return. With Opening Day less than a week away, Mateo is unlikely to have enough time to get ready for the season even if he returns soon, though manager Jayce Tingler didn't close the door on the possibility completely. "He's probably going to need some baseball work," Tingler said. "But at the same time, he brings a lot of speed to the game. If we want to use that asset of his game, can we use that right away? Probably. But we'll wait and see." Jake Cronenworth is the most likely candidate to fill Mateo's projected spot if the latter remains out.
Jul 8 2020Mateo has tested positive for COVID-19, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo was traded to the Padres in late June, but manager Jayce Tingler revealed Wednesday that Mateo has tested positive for COVID-19. The 25-year-old is experiencing some symptoms, but Tingler said that those symptoms are improving. Mateo was expected to fill a major-league roster spot to begin the season due to his lack of remaining minor-league options, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready for the start of the 2020 campaign. Under MLB protocol, he'll have to test negative twice before he's able to rejoin the team.
Jun 30 2020The Padres acquired Mateo from the Athletics on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old was set to report to Oakland for summer camp this week as a member of the team's 60-man roster pool, but he'll instead end up making his way to San Diego. Mateo was somewhat buried on the depth chart behind Franklin Barreto and Tony Kemp at second base with the A's, and his immediate outlook could be a bit more optimistic with the Padres. Fernando Tatis has shortstop locked down while Jurickson Profar, Greg Garcia and Ty France are the top options at the keystone. Mateo has no remaining minor-league options and as a result is likely to be a member of the season-opening, 30-man roster, even if he only ends up filling a bench role.
Jun 29 2020Mateo will report to Oakland when teams resume workouts this week after the Athletics announced Sunday that he would be part of their 60-man roster pool. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With no minor-league options remaining and with Franklin Barreto and Tony Kemp ahead of him on the depth chart at second base at the time spring training was suspended in mid-March, Mateo wasn't considered a lock to break camp with the Athletics. However, MLB's decision to increase 40-man rosters to 60-man pools will allow the Athletics to keep the speedster in the fold in 2020 without having to risk exposing him to waivers. Oakland is still projected to open their 60-game slate in late July with Franklin Barreto and Tony Kemp as its primary options at the keystone, but Mateo -- who has stolen at least 20 bases in each of his past five minor-league seasons -- could receive ample use off the bench as a pinch runner.
Apr 10 2020Mateo's chances of garnering a spot on the Opening Day roster are uncertain following his spring training battle with Vimael Machin for a backup job at second base, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: When spring training was suspended, Franklin Barreto and Tony Kemp were projected to platoon at second base, with Mateo and Machin seemingly battling for what could have been the 26th and final spot on the roster. The 24-year-old Mateo was outpaced by Machin at the plate during Cactus League play, with the latter's .333 average markedly better than Mateo's .231 figure. Gallegos notes Mateo is a more "electric" player than Machin because of his lightning speed -- which manifested itself this spring in the form of four steals -- and is also out of minor-league options. Machin counters with the ability to play all four infield positions and is a Rule 5 draft pick, so he would return to his original organization (the Cubs) if he doesn't stick with the Athletics. Ultimately, even though Machin arguably had a leg up in their battle when play was paused, Mateo could well be the beneficiary of a possible expansion of rosters beyond 26 players that's been discussed as one of the contingency plans for a delayed regular season.
Mar 4 2020Mateo went 3-for-4 with three base hits, two RBI and a stolen base Tuesday in the Athletics' 6-5 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Marcus Semien getting the day off, Mateo took his spot at shortstop and at the top of the batting order and didn't look out of place. The 24-year-old put his premium wheels on display immediately, legging out an infield single on his first at-bat, then claiming his third stolen base of the spring. Mateo is competing with a host of players for the starting job at second base, but even if he fails to win the job battle, his high-end speed might be enough for him to crack the 26-man Opening Day roster as a utility man. The fact that Mateo has no minor-league options remaining and would likely be claimed if exposed to waivers helps his case for breaking camp with the A's.
Feb 28 2020Mateo, who's 3-for-12 this spring, has a good chance of making the Opening Day roster, in part due to his complete lack of minor-league options, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mateo has just under 1,100 plate appearances at the Triple-A level over the last two seasons, and he showed signs of finally hitting his stride in 2019 with a .289/.330/.504 line that included career bests in home runs (19) and RBI (78). Gallegos reports Mateo has already been impressing with his above-average athleticism and speed early in camp, and because he's completely out of minor-league options, he has an even better shot of locking down a backup infielder job if he continues showing well through the balance of spring training.
Aug 14 2019Mateo is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Las Vegas with minor ankle soreness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Jul 16 2019Mateo, who's slashing .301\/.336\/.521 with 46 extra-base hits (20 doubles, 13 triples, 13 home runs) and 62 RBI across 408 plate appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas, is nevertheless likely to remain with the Aviators until rosters expand in September, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2018Mateo is slashing just .196/.237/.297 with 15 extra-base hits (nine doubles, six triples) over 225 plate appearances across 58 games at Triple-A Nashville.The six three-baggers certainly is an eye-opener, but there's not much else to write home about with respect to Mateo's body of work with the Sounds thus far. After posting .300 and .292 averages, respectively, over a pair of Double-A stops in 2017 with the Yankees' and Athletics' organizations, the 22-year-old has found Triple-A arms exceedingly difficult to solve. That might be best summed up in his strikeout rate, which has climbed to a career-high 30.2 percent in Nashville, a near-eight-point boost from the 22.4 percent figure he'd generated at Double-A Midland last season. With Marcus Semien playing on just a one-year contract and arbitration-eligible in 2019, there was hope that Mateo could potentially be ready for a promotion by the end of this season. However, if his current numbers are any indication, he'll need substantially more seasoning before that can be realistically considered.