Ramírez to start Saturday vs. Rangers
Tillman expected to make final rehab start Sunday for Norfolk
Rookie right-hander Yefry Ramírez will return to the Orioles rotation, receiving the start in the team’s penultimate game before the All-Star break Saturday against the Texas Rangers.
Ramírez was recalled before Wednesday’s game as part of a corresponding disabled list move — the Orioles placed right-hander Andrew Cashner on the DL with a neck strain — so he was able to return before serving the mandatory 10 days in the minors after being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
The Orioles will continue to get a closer look at the 4-year-old Ramírez, who was acquired at last July from the Yankees for international bonus slots, by giving him his fourth major league start.
Pitching against his old organization in Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader, Ramírez allowed four runs on nine hits, two walks and a hit batter, lasting just four innings in a 92-pitch outing as the Orioles lost 10-2.
Before that outing, Ramírez posted a 2.51 ERA over his first three outings — including three starts — with the Orioles, holding opponents to a .163 batting average. Tillman update: Right-hander Chris Tillman said he was scheduled to throw a between-starts bullpen session today at Triple-A Norfolk, and still expected to make his final minor league rehabilitation start for the Tides on Sunday afternoon.
Manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that Tillman could possibly be activated from the DL to start the final game before the All-Star break against the Rangers.
But if Tillman is set to make one more start in the minors, that would mean that right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis would likely be summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to start Sunday.
Tillman’s 30-day minor-league rehab window expires after his next start, so the Orioles must decide whether to add him to the active roster following the All-Star break.
Tillman has a 7.59 ERA in his five rehab starts, allowing 20 runs (18 earned) on 41 base runners over 211⁄ innings. He allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks over 61⁄ innings in his last outing Tuesday for High-A Frederick. Hays receives injection: Showalter said that top prospect Austin Haysreceived an injection Mondaytohelpthe progress of a bone bruise and tendinitis in his ankle, an injury that’s limited his season to just 43 games.
Hays spent several weeks in a boot, and recently saw a specialist to evaluate the injury.
Following the injection, he won’t be able to resume baseball activities for a week. O’s suspend Papa John’s promotion: In the wake of the resignation of Papa John’s Pizza founder John Schnatter after he used a racial slur during a conference call, the Orioles have suspended their “Five Runs or More” online promotion with the company.
Every time the Orioles scored five runs or more in a game this season, customers received a 50 percent discount the following day on regularly priced Papa John’s menu items ordered online by using a promo code.
Major League Baseball also suspended its “Papa Slam” promotion with the company — which provided fans a 40 percent discount on online orders the day after a grand slam was hit during a major league game — Yahoo! Sports reported on Wednesday. Around the horn: Reliever Darren O’Day had successful surgery to repair a torn left hamstring, performed Thursday by Ravens team physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl in Baltimore. Showalter said he’s looking forward to O’Day returning to form next year in the final year of his four-year, $31-million deal. The expected recovery time from the surgery is six months, so he should be ready in time for the beginning of spring training in February. … Showalter said that Cashner, who received a pressure-point injection in his neck Wednesday, is expected to return from the DL in the days after the season resumes following next week’s All-Star break. He is eligible to return July 21 in Toronto. … Following a day off, Trey Mancini returned to the starting lineup for Thursday’s makeup game against the Phillies, starting at first base and batting eighth.