Jorge Mateo DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) will make his 2025 debut on Friday against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman, starting at shortstop and batting ninth. Jackson Holliday, who started at the 6 on Opening Day on Thursday, will slide back over to second base, with Ramon Urias starting on the bench. Jordan Westburg will start at third base and bat third. Mateo, 29, only played in five spring training games after having UCL reconstruction on his left (non-throwing) elbow in the offseason, and he went 1-for-11 with an RBI, two walks and five strikeouts in Grapefruit League play. He entered Thursday's Opening Day win over Toronto as a defensive replacement but didn't make a plate appearance. Given his lack of spring action and the fact he's hit .125 in eight career at-bats against Gausman, Mateo is one to avoid in DFS lineups on Friday.

The Baltimore Sun's Matt Weyrich reports that Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) is not included on the team's Opening Day roster and doesn't have a locker in the clubhouse at Rogers Centre for the game on Thursday versus the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. Mateo was always seen as doubtful to be ready for Opening Day after having UCL reconstruction on his elbow last August. Until the 29-year-old is ready to rejoin Baltimore's active roster, Livan Soto will serve as a utility infielder for the O's. Mateo led the league with 35 stolen bases in 2022 and also stole 32 bags in 2023, but he'll be relegated to a bench role whenever he's fully healthy, giving him very little fantasy appeal. In 68 games in 2024 in his third full year with the team, he hit .229/.267/.401 with five homers, 18 RBI, 13 steals and 30 runs scored in 208 plate appearances.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) is staying in Florida to get additional at-bats in camp and isn't being ruled out for Opening Day on Thursday just yet, according to general manager Mike Elias. Mateo was cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut in mid-March and has gone 1-for-8 with an RBI, walk and four strikeouts in four spring games, but the 29-year-old should probably still be considered doubtful to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing UCL reconstruction on his left (non-throwing) elbow in late August of last year. The Dominican infielder led the league with 35 stolen bases in 2022 and then stole another 32 bags in 2023, but regular playing time won't be afforded to him when he's healthy, making in avoidable in all mixed fantasy leagues in 2025.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) could get into some Grapefruit League games soon, but it will take him some time to ramp up and he remains doubtful to be ready for Opening Day, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's good news that Mateo has progressed to the point where he's close to being cleared to play in games, but he'll almost certainly begin the 2025 regular season on the injured list after he had reconstruction surgery on his right UCL in his left (non-throwing) elbow. It helps that the surgery wasn't to his throwing arm, but Mateo still won't be ready for the start of the season and will merely be a bench infielder for the Orioles once he's ready to make his season debut. The 29-year-old Dominican led the league with 35 stolen bases in 2022 and also stole 32 bags in 2023, but he's never hit for average and isn't guaranteed that type of playing time again.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) has been progressing through his recovery plan but is still a "ways away" from returning to game action. Mateo went through a full workout on Monday. He took groundballs and was swinging a bat in the cage. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be approaching a return to the lineup if he does not face any setbacks. Mateo is recovering from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left elbow. Last season, the 29-year-old appeared in just 68 contests for Baltimore and held a .229/.267/.401 slash line. He tallied 14 doubles, five home runs, and swiped 13 bags. During the 2023 season, Mateo swiped 32 bags and held a .217/.267/.340 line. When healthy, he will likely be deployed as a depth option in the Baltimore infield.