(Updated: 8:45 p.m.)
BALTIMORE — Embarking on their second trip to the West Coast of the season, the Orioles hope to welcome back a few players from the disabled list in the coming days.
Standout reliever Darren O’Day completed his first full bullpen session on Saturday as he continues to recover from a right hamstring injury that sent him on the DL on June 3. Manager Buck Showalter said O’Day will complete another bullpen session and will pitch two simulated games, which could put him in line to be activated before the conclusion of the nine-game trip.
“He only had one little thing yesterday that he [felt],” Showalter said. “Other than that, it went really well. He’s moving around running, and we have it mapped out if everything went on scheduled when he would be activated. But there are three or four obstacles to cross. If everything went perfectly, he could be activated on this trip.”
O’Day’s absence has put more pressure on the back end of the bullpen as the Orioles have counted more heavily on right-hander Brad Brach in high-leverage situations. Brach and All-Star closer Zach Britton entered Sunday having pitched in three of the last four days.
Baltimore expects to welcome back another member of its bullpen early in the trip as right-hander Vance Worley pitched 1 2/3 innings at Double-A Bowie on Saturday night. The long reliever allowed five hits and one earned run, but his manager didn’t seem too concerned with the results.
“It went well. Physically, he feels good,” Showalter said Sunday morning. “He’s in the locker room. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”
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Worley hasn’t pitched since June 12 while dealing with a groin strain and is eligible to be activated on Tuesday, but he will instead have one more rehab appearance at Single-A Frederick on that day.
On Monday at Frederick, backup catcher Caleb Joseph is scheduled to catch in a game for the first time since suffering a testicular injury that required surgery on May 30. Jospeh has already been serving as a designated hitter on a rehab assignment and has been catching bullpen sessions for a while now, meaning he could rejoin the club after catching Worley on Tuesday.
Other changes could be coming to the roster with two relievers — Ashur Tolliver and Mychal Givens — potentially going on paternity leave in the near future. Showalter said Tolliver’s wife is due on July 7 and Givens’ wife is due on July 11, but Tolliver told his manager that the baby could come “any day now.”
(Update: Baltimore optioned Tolliver to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday evening.)
The Orioles would be able replace either pitcher using the paternity leave list, but that can always be a tricky proposition when playing so far from home.
NOTES: Chris Davis was serving as the DH on Sunday as Showalter wanted to give him two straight days off from playing in the field. Mark Trumbo was making his second start of the season at first base. … Ubaldo Jimenez is listed as the starter for Tuesday’s game against the Padres. The struggling right-hander allowed two earned runs in six innings against the Padres to earn the victory last Wednesday. … Baltimore entered Sunday leading the majors with 43 home games played and owning the second-best home record (30-13) in baseball. Of course, the Orioles will play 16 of their next 19 games on the road beginning Tuesday.
