BALTIMORE—The Orioles reinstated infielder Ramón Urías from the 10-day injured list before Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins. Urías, who had a strained right hamstring, is hitting .292 with two home runs, nine RBIs and a .756 OPS.
His last game was April 30th, and he didn’t have a rehab assignment. The Orioles and Urias thought that he didn’t need one because he wasn’t out long and could simulate game action with the facilities at Camden Yards.
Urías’ return reduces the Orioles’ injured list to nine players.
“It’s great for us. It’s just what we need now. A full team together,” Urías said. “We’re ready to win some games.”
Outfielder Dylan Carlson, who was hitless in 15 at-bats, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Urías.
While Urías came back quickly, Jordan Westburg’s left hamstring strain has taken longer to heal. He was supposed to play for Norfolk in a rehab assignment last weekend, but that was scrubbed.
“Westy had a little setback, unfortunately,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He has stopped his running progression. We’re letting the hamstring calm down again. He’s going to restart here. He’s hasn’t started back up his running. That was unfortunate news.”
Reliever Andrew Kittredge threw a scoreless inning in his fourth rehab outing, his third for Norfolk. Kittredge hasn’t played this season after March surgery for bone chip removal from his left knee.
“He’s got to check a couple more boxes. We’d like to see him go back-to-back once, at least, but all good news about he’s throwing the baseball and hope he feels,” Hyde said. “I think he throws again this weekend, and then he throws a back-to-back, and maybe another one.”
Right-hander Chayce McDermott, who recently returned from the 15-day injured list, could start Game 2. McDermott sustained a lat strain early in spring training. He’s thrown 9 2/3 innings for Norfolk and High-A Aberdeen. He’s the 27th man for the doubleheader.
“He’s not fully stretched out,” Hyde said. “We’re going to get through Game 1 and then figure out the starter for Game 2.”
Cade Povich, who was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game that was rained out, has been pushed back to this weekend’s series against Washington.
“We’ve got 16 games in 15 days, and try to give guys extra days when we can,” Hyde said. “We need a starter for Sunday anyway, and we thought the best thing was to push him back a couple of days.”
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