Cashner returns to DL

Andrew Cashner is making his second stop on the disabled list this season.

The Orioles placed Cashner on the 10-day DL today with a strained muscle in his neck and recalled right-hander Yefry Ramírez from Triple-A Norfolk. Ramirez is eligible to return because he's replacing an injured player.

Cashner worked 6 1/3 innings last night, his second-longest outing of the season, but he received a trigger point injection in his neck today to quiet the spams that crop up periodically.

Manager Buck Showalter said Cashner has received the same injection in previous years around the All-Star break.

Cashner will be able to return next weekend in Toronto and miss only one start.

The Orioles could start Ramírez on Sunday against the Rangers, which was Cashner's next turn, or give him the ball Saturday, option him back to Norfolk and recall Jimmy Yacabonis to close out the series.

Showalter indicated that Chris Tillman also is a consideration for Sunday. Tillman currently is slated to rejoin the Tides and conclude his rehab assignment.

Cashner is 2-9 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 18 starts. He has nine quality starts, but continues to search for his first home victory.

The Orioles placed Cashner on the 10-day DL last month with a strained muscle in his lower back.

While the Orioles keep shuttling pitchers back and forth from the minors, they could be on the verge of losing left-hander Joely Rodriguez. They have 72 hours to select his contract or he can accept an offer to pitch in Japan, according to sources.

Rodriguez, signed to a minor league deal in November, is 5-3 with a 4.69 ERA and two saves in 31 appearances with Norfolk. He spent parts of the last two seasons with the Phillies.

The Orioles recalled left-hander Donnie Hart yesterday for the seventh time this season and purchased left-hander Paul Fry's contract from Norfolk on June 29. They continue to carry lefty Tanner Scott while Richard Bleier sits out the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn lat muscle.

Rodriguez keeps getting bypassed for other southpaws and could leave the United States in search of a better opportunity.

(Yes, he was my dark horse candidate in spring training.)