Injuries, suspensions, opt-outs and tonight's game

The Orioles crammed a lot of news into a few hours yesterday, if a 14-minute rain delay to start the game also falls into that category.

It's old news, for sure. Seems to rain here every day. The official mascot should be moss.

Catcher Welington Castillo was placed on the disabled list, and it's - you pick the word - that his testicular injury occurred exactly one year after the one sustained by catcher Caleb Joseph.

"An eerie coincidence" is three words. So is "a painful reminder."

If I'm an Orioles catcher and my name's in the lineup on May 30, 2018, I'm announcing my retirement and entering broadcasting. Maybe I fake my own death.

I remember when it also happened to Charles Johnson at Camden Yards. And getting the awkward updates at his locker after he returned from the hospital. I'm pretty sure that I asked one day whether we could just talk about his hamstring.

Castillo may be ready in fewer than 10 days and the Orioles considered creative ways to carry three catchers for a brief period. They couldn't execute it.

Manager Buck Showalter wanted to stay with seven relievers. The Orioles could have optioned outfielder Joey Rickard, but then he'd be lost for 10 days and they're facing three left-handed starters in the Red Sox series that begins tonight at Camden Yards.

Designating Paul Janish for assignment would leave the Orioles without a utility infielder. They could get by for one night if there's an injury and rush a replacement to Baltimore, but it just made more sense to put Castillo on the disabled list and select Francisco Peña's contract.

Peña eventually will be designated again and decide whether to accept another outright assignment if he clears waivers.

The Orioles added Mike Wright to their bullpen yesterday and optioned reliever Logan Verrett. Fresh arms are always right around the corner.

Wright has been working on his sinker, but he didn't want to talk about his repertoire, playfully dismissing a question about it at his locker.

"I'm not going to give away any information, you know?" he said. "I just feel good. How's that?"

Wright laughed. We laughed. Interview ended.

Wright worked a scoreless ninth inning, allowing a double and striking out two. I saw one fastball at 98 mph. There may have been others, but I wasn't locked into the radar readings.

"I thought it was important that he come in and get outs before we had to get Brad (Brach) going more than anything," Showalter said. "People say, 'That's a 10-4 game.' That's a 2-1 game in his mind, the way guys are pitching. If he ends up throwing 30, 40 pitches and we have to get Brad in, guess what happens to him tomorrow? They know.

"I think there's a certain amount of pressure involved in that game even though some people don't think so or wouldn't think so."

I also reported yesterday that veteran infielder Robert Andino was suspended 50 games after testing positive for an amphetamine. The Orioles had to know what was coming and maybe it influenced their roster decisions, though Janish is regarded as the better defensive player.

Major League Baseball announces the suspensions, not the Orioles, but I'm still counting it as their news because he's in the organization. Let's not quibble.

I get the press releases emailed to me that include a headline about minor league player suspensions and I scroll it on my phone while hoping that it doesn't involve an Oriole. Mostly it's for selfish reasons - extra work and all - but I also like Andino and wish it hadn't happened.

As it turned out, the release named two Orioles minor leaguers. I'll confess that I never heard of outfielder Johnny Dixon, who was on the Dominican Summer League team's roster. He was suspended 72 games after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

Sounds more like a Netflix series.

Dixon, 20, has batted .248/.311/.355 with 18 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 69 RBIs in 179 games in two seasons in the Dominican Summer League.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette intended to speak last night with agent Scott Boras regarding Pedro Álvarez's opt-out clause, which the veteran infielder/outfielder can exercise today.

Álvarez is on fire, with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in May. He hit a three-run shot last night.

I've heard that the Orioles expect Álvarez to leave. They don't have an obvious spot for a left-handed designated hitter on a four-man bench. Hyun Soo Kim doesn't play much, but he can't be optioned and they trust him in the outfield.

Pitcher Edwin Jackson's opt-out clause also was reported as being today, but I'm told it's June 15. Let's just go with "this month."

The Orioles placed first baseman and former top catching prospect Jesus Montero on Norfolk's roster yesterday. He's done serving his 50-game suspension. So is pitcher Mario Alcantara, now on Single-A Frederick's roster.

The Orioles are preparing for their 10th game against the Red Sox this season - let's see whether they can play nice - and Wade Miley still is sitting on one career start versus the division rivals. It occurred on Sept. 12, 2016 and flashbacks could bring blood-curdling screams in the night.

Miley lasted only 1 1/3 innings and allowed six runs and eight hits in a 12-2 loss at Fenway Park. It also was my birthday, which had absolutely nothing to do with his outing.

He wasn't distracted while trying to figure out the perfect gift.

Miley led the American League with 31 walks heading into last night's games and is averaging 5.2 per nine innings. He's gone five innings in three of his last four starts and in five of 10.

Miley's posted a 3.02 ERA in 53 2/3 innings, but also a 1.509 WHIP.

Chris Young is 5-for-12 with two doubles lifetime against him.

Showalter may stack his lineup with left-handers tonight against Red Sox southpaw and former Orioles farmhand Eduardo Rodriguez. Left-handers are hitting .289 against him this season and .273 in his career. Right-handers are hitting .190 this season and .232 lifetime.

Mark Trumbo is 0-for-14 with five strikeouts against Rodriguez, who's reeled off seven quality starts in a row and is 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.019 WHIP in 10 games over 55 1/3 innings. Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis each are 4-for-19. Machado has two doubles, Jones has a double and home run and Davis has struck out eight times.

Jonathan Schoop is 2-for-13 with a double and five strikeouts. Trey Mancini is 1-for-5 with a home run.

Rodriguez faced the Orioles on April 23 at Camden Yards and held them to one hit over six scoreless innings. He walked five and struck out seven.