Orioles DFA Sucre, put Cobb on IL and option Yacabonis

The Orioles have returned pitcher Alex Cobb to the injured list with a lumbar strain, designated catcher Jesús Sucre for assignment and optioned pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis to Triple-A Norfolk.

The three moves create room on the 25-man roster for pitchers Branden Kline and Luis Ortiz and catcher Austin Wynns, who were recalled from Norfolk prior to today's series finale against the Twins in Minnesota.

Cobb is making his third stop on the IL this year, missing his opening day assignment with a groin injury and twice being sidelined with back spasms. He's 0-2 with a 10.95 ERA and 1.865 WHIP in three starts, with 15 earned runs (16 total) and 21 hits in 12 1/3 innings.

Cobb surrendered four home runs in four innings Friday night to run his total to nine.

David Hess could move back into the rotation or manager Brandon Hess could choose Luis Ortiz, who was scheduled to start today with the Tides.

Ortiz's promotion is more about availability and his presence on the 40-man roster. He's followed up a poor spring training by registering a 5.87 ERA and 2.022 WHIP in four starts with Norfolk covering 15 1/3 innings.

Sucre's removal is a surprise after he broke camp as the starter, with Pedro Severino backing him up. Sucre is slashing .210/.269/.242 with two doubles and three RBIs in 20 games and Severino, who's out of options, has become a more regular presence in the lineup.

The Orioles signed Sucre to a minor league deal on Feb. 5 and he reported late due to work visa issues in Venezuela. He threw out four of eight runners attempting to steal and tossed a scoreless inning in another emergency relief appearance.

Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias can try to find a trade partner for Sucre.

Wynns began the season on the IL with a strained oblique. He's 5-for-13 with six walks in five games with Norfolk and was removed early from yesterday's game in Louisville in order to catch a flight to Minnesota.

Yacabonis surrendered three home runs yesterday in the eighth inning and is sporting a 6.32 ERA and 1.596 WHIP in 10 appearances spanning 15 2/3 innings. He's back on the Triple-A shuttle.

Kline, the Frederick native and second-round pick in 2012 out of the University of Virginia, was the 26th man in the April 20 doubleheader against the Twins and made his major league debut in Game 2, tossing a scoreless inning before coming back out and giving up a pair of solo home runs.

Kline pitched Thursday and Friday for the Tides, going one inning and two-thirds of an inning.

Wynns is behind the plate this afternoon. Stevie Wilkerson is in right field and Chris Davis is at first base.

Wynns will be the 36th players used by the Orioles this season. Ortiz could bump the total to 37.

For the Orioles
Jonathan Villar 2B
Stevie Wilkerson RF
Dwight Smith Jr. LF
Renato Núñez DH
Rio Ruiz 3B
Austin Wynns C
Chris Davis 1B
Joey Rickard CF
Richie Martin SS

Dylan Bundy RHP

For the Twins
Max Kepler RF
Jorge Polanco SS
Nelson Cruz DH
Eddie Rosario LF
C.J. Cron 1B
Marwin Gonzalez 3B
Mitch Garver C
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Byron Buxton CF

Kyle Gibson RHP