Notes on Wieters MRI, morning roster cuts and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - There seems to be improvement in the condition of Matt Wieters' right elbow, but the Orioles scheduled a 10 a.m. MRI for their catcher with team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs.

"He said he's lost some of the soreness and the swelling is gone for the most part," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's gotten better every day. He felt better today than he did yesterday, so day to day.

"I don't go up to him every day and ask, 'Exactly how did it feel? How did it feel at 7 o'clock? What about at 8:32? He didn't need that. But I thought he had a good face with it today and he's planning on winning that battle."

Wieters had an X-ray on the elbow that came back normal. An MRI figured to be the next step.

"That doesn't surprise anybody," Showalter said. "That's, what, step two or step three? What's the next one, dye? Hopefully, we'll stay away from the dye."

The Orioles optioned left-hander Chris Jones and reassigned right-hander Hunter Harvey to minor league camp. More cuts are coming later today.

Your annual reminder that players on the 40-man roster are optioned. Non-roster players are reassigned.

"We'll get that down under 50," Showalter said.

Harvey was charged with five runs in one-third of an inning yesterday against the Twins. He hasn't pitched since 2014 due to a strained right flexor mass. He also suffered a fractured right fibula last spring after being hit by a comebacker.

"He's ready to go," Showalter said. "He's gotten everything he needed to get out of this and he's got to move on to his next step. He'll have a side or two and their games start, really they start tomorrow, but Wednesday is when they start playing the regular schedule.

"The innings are going away now and they need to get stretched out and get ready to start their season. We don't have the innings for them. I know we've got a couple guys we're going to pitch one more time before we send them out. We'll get Hunter right back in the mix."

T.J. McFarland made it through yesterday's bullpen session without any elbow issues and he will pitch in a game Tuesday or Wednesday.

"He's ready to go," Showalter said. "Mac's back in the mix. That was good to see."

Brian Matusz threw his bullpen session this morning, as I mentioned earlier. Showalter will check on him later.

Jimmy Paredes' left wrist continues to improve.

"He's out here working and doing good," Showalter said. "I talked to him today about it. He said it's getting better every day. A little less soreness there. Richie (Bancells) was saying today he expects him to start moving toward the field in the next week or so."

The Orioles would like to get three innings out of starter Yovani Gallardo as he faces the Phillies for the second time.

The Orioles brought pitchers Jason Stoffel, Stefan Crichton and David Hess from minor league camp.

Baltimore native Josh Charles is watching batting practice and attending today's game. I tried to sell him on a new series, "The Good Blogger," but he wasn't buying it.