Darren O’Day took a step forward in his return from the disabled list, throwing two innings of a simulated game.
O’Day took the mound at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday before the Baltimore Orioles game against the New York Yankees. He was diagnosed with a strained right hamstring and placed on the DL on June 3.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Sunday or Monday may be a possible return date for O’Day. Showalter also noticed the right-hander was a bit out of breath during his mound session and may require more conditioning.
Multiple reports indicate that O’Day will potentially pitch in a rehab assignment on Friday for Double-A Bowie. Showalter’s assessment of O’Day’s previous side sessions was positive, noting that the nature of his injury has given him time to rest his arm.
O’Day is 2-1 with a 3.15 earned run average and 25 strikeouts in 20 innings this season. When available, he is a set-up man to All-Star closer Zach Britton. Without O’Day’s services, the Orioles’ bullpen continues to strive, sitting fourth in the Major Leagues with a 3.01 ERA.
O’Day has a low-sidearm delivery that might put a little more pressure on the push-off leg. The strain is high on his hamstring and O’Day reported that bending over caused pain when the injury first occurred. That bend appears in the early part of the motion of his delivery.
The success of the Orioles’ bullpen makes the decision of who to send down upon O’Day’s return an interesting one. Ubaldo Jimenez and Odrisamer Despaigne have recently been banished from the rotation and may present themselves as candidates for a demotion. Rookie Donnie Hart may also be optioned to make space in the bullpen for O’Day.
Hyun Soo Kim also has a right hamstring strain, and was in the batter’s box for O’Day’s simulated game. Kim had been out since July 10, and Tuesday’s appearance was a final audition before the Orioles would decide whether or not he would require time on the DL.
Unfortunately, Chris Davis and Matt Wieters were unavailable for Tuesday night’s game, forcing the Orioles’ hand. Baltimore would send Kim to the DL and recall Julio Borbon from Double-A before the game.
Davis is suffering from the same stomach virus that plagued both Wieters and Britton on their way home from the All-Star Game. Wieters got over the stomach bug but was hit on the foot with a pitch in Monday night’s game.
An x-ray of Wieter’s foot did not show anything alarming, and he is listed as day-to-day.
Gerard Gilberto is a Staff Writer for Outside Pitch MLB. Follow him on Twitter.
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