Nursing a right shoulder injury for almost a week, center fielder Adam Jones was out of the lineup for the fourth time in six games on Sunday as the Orioles wrapped up a three-game set with Toronto.
The 29-year-old hurt his shoulder diving for a ball in Monday’s 4-0 win over Philadelphia before sitting out the final three games against the Phillies. Returning to the lineup to serve as the designated hitter on Friday and Saturday, Jones went 1-for-6 with three RBIs and two walks, but he’s shown discomfort on a few occasions while swinging the bat.
Manager Buck Showalter hopes a day off on Sunday followed by an off-day before the start of a three-game set with Boston on Tuesday will do the trick for his four-time All-Star outfielder. The Orioles continue to express confidence that Jones will avoid the 15-day disabled list, but concern has to be growing with the issue still lingering nearly a week later.
David Lough started in center on Sunday after Nolan Reimold played there on Saturday.
As many predicted, the Orioles optioned right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk after he made his first start of the year on Saturday. With Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen expected to return to the starting rotation this week, the Orioles want Gausman to remain on a starter schedule pitching every fifth day for the Tides.
The 24-year-old allowed two runs and four hits over five innings on Saturday after spending more than a month on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.
Gonzalez is expected to return from the DL to start on Thursday after two runs in five solid innings for Double-A Bowie in a rehab start on Saturday. He was sent to the 15-day DL after injuring his groin earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Chen is eligible to return from the minors on Friday after temporarily being optioned to Single-A Frederick last week to make room on the 25-man roster for outfielder Chris Parmelee. The Taiwanese lefty pitched three scoreless innings for the Keys on Saturday and is line to start the opener of the Cleveland series at Camden Yards.
The Orioles recalled right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake from Norfolk to take Gausman’s spot on the 25-man roster. In five appearances with Baltimore earlier this season, Drake pitched to a 3.52 ERA in 7 2/3 innings. The Naval Academy product has a microscopic 0.76 ERA in 23 2/3 innings for the Tides this season.
The roster move currently gives the Orioles an eight-man bullpen with Drake and right-hander Mychal Givens both promoted over the weekend.
