Major league brother act is short-lived

Corban Joseph optioned to Bowie; Davis to return in next couple days

WASHINGTON — Corban and Caleb Joseph waited a long time to play in the major leagues together, but they didn’t have long to savor the opportunity.

The day after they appeared in the same game for the Orioles, Corban was optioned back to the Bowie Baysox to make room on the major league roster for the return of starting pitcher Andrew Cashner from the disabled list.

“Just had to make room for a starting pitcher today,” manager Buck Showalter said. “Corban presented himself well, and we’ll let him continue with what’s a really good season [in Bowie]. “But we have some guys right now who are a little more versatile.”

He appeared in four games and — though he was 1-for-9at the plate — had a handful of meaningful at-bats. He had a hit in his first game in an Orioles uniform and drew a tough ninth-inning walk in an important situation Saturday. His pinch-hit RBI groundout in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Nationals gave the O’s a one-run lead, but it didn’t hold up.

That plate appearance came right behind one by his brother, who walked to load the bases, but the first time they ever played together in the big leagues was bittersweet.

“It’s a little tough to analyze right now,” Caleb said after the loss. “Maybe when the sun comes up. Actually, when I was trotting to first base, I did realize, that’s kind of cool, two Josephs back to back.

“At that point, we were tied and he gets the go-ahead RBI. That was cool, then sadly your enthusiasm goes out the window when you lose the lead.”

Showalter acknowledged that the possibility of a roster move today did cross his mind when he sent Corban in to pinch-hit with his brother already in the game as the starting catcher, but said it was the right baseball decision. He would not rule out Corban, a utility player, being recalled again this year.

“They got some pictures together, I hope,” Showalter said. “I look at it as him having a chance to return. I don’t think he’s going to go back to Bowie and do anything different than what he was doing there. He’s a good, professional hitter.

“Those [roster moves] are tough. You feel good about a guy getting an opportunity and he deserved it.” Davis’ return imminent: As Orioles first baseman Chris Davis missed his seventh straight game Wednesday night to help him rediscover his form and return to some modicum of productivity, Showalter shot down the idea that his former All-Star slugger was following a path the team has already used for a struggling hitter before: outfielderHyun Soo Kim.

After Kim, no longer in the organization, struggled with major league velocity and same-side pitching in his first spring training in 2016 after signing from South Korea, Showalter and the Orioles kept him out for long stretches to try to find the proper pitching matchups that could get Kim a good feeling in between his batting practice work.

Showalter said that once Davis returns to the lineup — something he’s “thinking in the next couple of days, for sure” — he’ll be in it for good.

“Whether we’re facing a left-hander or right-hander, when I think it’s time, then he’s going to play,” Showalter said. “He’s going to play every day and unless he needs a day here or there or somebody else is really in need of playing — this will be a team thing. But the potential to get Chris back where he’s capable of is certainly a priority.”

Showalter gave some insight into how the team has gone about getting to that point.

“Proof’s in the pudding, right?” Showalter said. “Like a lot of guys, he’s been able to kind of back off without the game there, and really working on some things and trying to get some return.

“We’ve had some pitchers from the [High-A] Frederick club throwing to him in a lot of game situations, and being able to do a lot of things, not only hitting, but some other things where we hopefully kind of get a reset button on him and do a lot of things that take more than just a day or so

Davis is batting .150/.227/.227, with his last home run coming May 9. Rasmus rehab over: With a home run and a single in the first game of Double-ABowie’s doubleheader at Harrisburg on Wednesday, outfielder Colby Rasmus ( hip) hit the end of his 20-day rehabilitation assignment, and the team must decide what to do with him. If the Orioles don’t add him to the 25-man roster — sparing them removing a younger player — Rasmus would need to be designated for assignment. Around the horn: After allowing a run on three hits in three innings last Thursday and pitching to that same line Tuesday in four innings for Bowie, right-hander Gabriel Ynoa is nearing a return, Showalter said. His next outing, covering five innings, is expected to be Sunday. … Infielder Tim Beckham doubled and scored a run Wednesday for Triple-A Norfolk on a rehab assignment. He’s eligible to return Saturday in Atlanta.