O's notes on O'Day, Givens, Wright (Harvey to pitch at Aberdeen)

SEATTLE - The Orioles are hopeful that reliever Darren O'Day could throw another bullpen session when the team plays in Los Angeles starting Monday.

But while saying O'Day felt good today and that was a positive step, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said again that O'Day's return from a high hamstring strain is still moving at a slow pace. Showalter made it sound like the chances for O'Day to throw a 'pen session during the upcoming Dodgers series are not great.

"That would be a nice development. We'll see," he said. "I told him if he wasn't better when we got back from this trip he needs to change environments. Maybe head to Sarasota. Every day, Darren wants to be out there so bad. It's almost like you push him too hard. Getting to that end game is a challenge."

The Orioles will soon play at least for a short time without reliever Mychal Givens, who will go on paternity leave. That leave can last one to three days and Givens can be replaced on the roster when he is gone.

"Mychal is going to leave any day now," Showalter said.

Ashur Tolliver will also soon leave Triple-A Norfolk on paternity leave, meaning he is not a candidate to replace Givens on the Orioles roster at a time when the O's have just one lefty in the bullpen, closer Zach Britton.

On the farm today, Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Mike Wright pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings on three hits. Wright has an ERA of 0.87 ERA - allowing two earned runs in 20 2/3 innings pitched - in three starts for the Tides.

I asked Showalter what reports he has gotten on Wright since he was optioned out.

"He's been OK," Showalter said. "His results have been better than he's pitched. Good. It's not bad. Just a few things that maybe he got away with that he wouldn't get away with here. I think, couple of more starts, you're going to really like where he is. We're trying to leave him alone and let him get settled in there a little bit."

Could Wright return to the Orioles in a bullpen role?

"I'd consider anything," Showalter said. "We've got a lot of things in play. Where we are with depth of starters, I'd rather keep Mike there as a starter. Keep the ball in his hand. We'll still got some guys hurt. I know Chris Lee is not pitching again yet."

Showalter said top pitching prospect Hunter Harvey's next outing will be for short season Single-A Aberdeen. Harvey is going to start for the IronBirds on Monday in a 4:05 p.m. game at Ripken Stadium.

Coming back from sports hernia surgery, Harvey has made two starts in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Over five scoreless innings, he has allowed three hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts.