Britton on feeling "normal" again, plus other notes

Tonight's game hasn't started and the Orioles already feel better about the back end of their bullpen.

Closer Zach Britton's left arm responded well to last night's 12-pitch inning at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. He's scheduled to pitch Thursday and Saturday at Single-A Delmarva and likely will report to Double-A Bowie.

Darren O'Day threw a simulated game before batting practice today without any discomfort in his right shoulder. If he's fine on Thursday, the Orioles will activate him for Friday night's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

O'Day pitched to infielder Rubén Tejada and assistant hitting coach Howie Clark. His audience included manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Roger McDowell, bullpen coach Alan Mills, starter Chris Tillman and relievers Britton, Brad Brach, Mychal Givens and Richard Bleier.

The Orioles set July 3 or 5 as target dates for Britton's return to the active roster. Moving him to the 60-day disabled list yesterday eliminated the 3rd. He's eligible to come off the DL the following day, making the 5th probable if he doesn't experience any setbacks.

"I feel really good," Britton said. "I feel normal and I think that's the biggest thing is just coming in and feeling how you normally would after throwing. I feel like I could pitch again today. That's the best way to describe it. Getting ready to go to Delmarva tomorrow."

Britton was fine with the club's decision to transfer him to the 60-day disabled list and open a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Craig Gentry. Britton initially balked at suggestions that he could miss two months of the season with a recurrence of the left forearm strain.

"I think now, everything we've done has been positive," he said. "I feel really good, so it's hard to argue with the fact that they took the right approach with it. And putting me on the 60-day DL doesn't really do much because the schedule doesn't really alter it too much. Maybe a day, in honestly, so I feel really good about what we've done with Dave Walker down there in Florida and then coming back up obviously with Richie (Bancells) and (Brian) Ebel.

"At this stage I'm over any of the treatment that I needed. It's just about getting on the mound and pitching."

Britton walked a Hudson Valley batter and struck out one last night. He got a double play on one pitch to end his night.

"It's similar to your first one in spring training where you go out there and you're just trying to get back on the mound and feel comfortable," he said. "It's been a while since I pitched in a game and that was kind of a mental hurdle to get over. Everything was feeling good and then now as I go forward it's about commanding my sinker and stuff, throwing other pitches and getting back to actually executing other pitches.

"You maybe look at the results a little bit more as we go forward, but it was a big step yesterday. And I feel good coming in today, which is only positive."

Britton got reacquainted with former teammate Mark Hendrickson, in his first season as Aberdeen's pitching coach. Last night marked Hendrickson' first game in his new role.

They both had a slight case of the jitters.

"I played with him here in the big leagues and in the minors when he was making his comeback, so we have that good relationship, and we were both nervous," Britton said. "It was his coaching debut. I told him, 'This could either go really bad or really good for you, right?' And he said, 'Yeah, please don't do anything stupid.' It was a cool moment to be a part of that with him.

"I was definitely nervous. I told him the last time I started on opening day was in the minors and all the kids were excited. Two hours before the game, these kids were ready to go. And it was just fun. It was definitely exciting and a little nervous to get back on the mound. And that's what it's all about, competing. You miss it when you're not able to do it."

First baseman Chris Davis had two platelet-rich plasma injections yesterday to speed up his recovery from a strained right oblique.

Catcher Welington Castillo is out of the lineup tonight due to a sore right shoulder. He was hit by a foul tip on Monday.

Showalter said Castillo probably is available tonight.

For the Indians

Francisco Lindor SS
Jason Kipnis 2B
José Ramírez 3B
Edwin Encarnacion DH
Lonnie Chisenhall RF
Carlos Santana 1B
Austin Jackson LF
Bradley Zimmer CF
Roberto Pérez C

Carlos Carrasco RHP