Adley Rutschman of the Orioles is struggling with back injuries

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is having an incredible All-Star season this year, but he missed Friday's 10-12 loss to the Boston Red Sox due to a potentially concerning injury.

After the game, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde addressed Rutschman's absence from the lineup with WNST's Luke Jones.

“He probably played in the cage for 30, 45 minutes before the game, and then his back started to give him problems,” Hyde said. “We took him out of the lineup. Later, substitutes and [James McCann] trapped. He's living day to day at the moment – I hope so. We'll see.”

The Orioles have already been decimated by injuries of late. Third baseman Jordan Westburg is out with a broken hand, second baseman Jorge Mateo is out with an elbow injury and starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is out with a shoulder injury. If Rutschman goes on the injured list due to these recent back problems, the Orioles' depth would really be tested.

The good news for the Orioles is that, as Hyde said, Rutschman is taking things day by day right now. It's normal for catchers to pick up injuries here and there and miss games, so if that's all it is, there's nothing to worry about. However, if it turns into something more serious, it might be time to panic.

Rutschman has no history of spinal problems, so this could well be an isolated case.

The Orioles need Adley Rutschman healthy

In just his third season in the major leagues, Rutschman has already shown that he is one of the best, if not the best, catcher in all of baseball. This season, Rutschman is hitting .267/.332/.424 with 17 home runs, 69 RBI, and is tasked with managing a pitching staff that is constantly changing due to injuries and transfers. A plus defender at a premium position, the Orioles would miss Rutschman's production on both sides of the field.

The Orioles currently sit just one game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East with about a month and a half until the end of the regular season, and are fighting to reclaim the division lead and secure a first-round Division Series bye in the postseason.

Having an elite catcher like Rutschman is one of the biggest advantages a team can have. The Orioles need Rutschman to be in the lineup every day as a catcher if they want to catch the Yankees in the division and be serious contenders for the World Series.