Hardy expects to play on Tuesday

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he expects to be in Tuesday's lineup after leaving today's game with tightness in his back.

Hardy was replaced after the seventh inning, one day after manager Buck Showalter gave him the day off.

"See what happens? I get a day off and I get worse," Hardy quipped. "No, I honestly feel better right now than I did in the seventh. I think it was the right decision. Buck just saw me favoring it a little bit. It's good. It's not bad.

"I think just kind of protecting it a little bit. It was tight, I think, from the bed in Miami. So I was protecting it a little bit and I think Buck saw it and he just wanted to get me out of there."

Everth Cabrera moved from second base to shortstop and Steve Pearce shifted from first base to second in the Orioles' 4-3 win over the Astros at Camden Yards.

Hardy apparently showed up at the ballpark with some back tightness, but he began to feel better. Showalter didn't like the way he looked while running to first base following a single in the seventh inning.

"I was going at 100 percent of what I had and I think he saw it and he just took me out," Hardy said. "I think it was the way I was running. If anything, I was just kind of protecting my back and apparently it didn't look very good. It was probably the right decision, but I didn't want to come out of the game. But I'd say it already feels better than it did there in the seventh."

Asked about playing on Tuesday, Hardy replied, "I expect to unless I come in worse, which I don't anticipate. I should be in there tomorrow."

Showalter said "it seems more likely than not" that Hardy will be Tuesday.

"He's been able to manage it the whole period he's been here and will be here," Showalter said.