Showalter pregame on Trumbo and more (plus a game update)

TORONTO - The Orioles are still waiting to hear the decision by Mark Trumbo of the next course of action for his injured right knee. Trumbo went on the disabled list Monday with right knee inflammation.

He has sought several opinions including one from Dr. James Andrews and one from Dr. Leigh Ann Curl, the head orthopaedic surgeon for the Baltimore Ravens.

The Orioles would hate to lose Trumbo for an extended period. Since the All-Star break, he is hitting .284 with five homers and 16 RBIs.

"It is what it is," manager Buck Showalter said. "You like having Mark around for more than his ability to hit. He's been a guy that has been pretty consistent for us this year. It's a kick in the pants but it opens up an opportunity to look at some other people too, so there are two sides to that. We'd rather have Mark. We look forward to whatever direction this goes that we can make sure he's not going to have as much of an issue with this. We can talk about this in more detail once they decide what direction they are going to go."

Showalter said that Andrew Cashner will start one game of the day-night doubleheader Saturday with the Yankees. Yefry Ramírez or Jimmy Yacabonis will start the other game. Yacabonis could come up as the 26th man. Alex Cobb will start Friday and Dylan Bundy on Sunday. The Orioles will also need to find a starter for Tuesday and that could impact how they handle the pitchers for the doubleheader.

Showalter today briefly addressed the September callup possibilities, mentioned a few possible names that could be added when rosters expand.

"We won't have 40," he said. "We have a number of guys that won't be available. Hoping (Pedro) Araujo can get back by then. There are some guys that can't physically come up, maybe including Trumbo.

"I looked at some of this yesterday. You've got (Austin) Hays, (Anthony) Santander, (Steve) Wilkerson. Right now I am concentrating on the 25. We are still a week away from that. Santander has had a lot of physical issues and Hays is just now kind of getting back in the flow of playing."

This could be a chance for Hays to get some needed at-bats since he has missed a lot of time injured.

"There is that potential but there are people here we need to see play too. Sometimes you add to the roster someone you are going to have to protect (in the winter on the 40-man roster) anyway," Showalter said.

Double-A Bowie reliever Branden Kline might be someone in that category.

Showalter was impressed by what he read today about the outing last night of Bowie right-hander Dean Kremer, who threw six scoreless against Richmond.

"That report read real good. He was 92-96 with a good curveball. He's kind of, I don't know if under the radar is the right word, but he's presented himself well," he said.

Kremer is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in six Baysox starts. Over 33 1/3 he has walked 13 and fanned 35.

Showalter said he feels for Bowie right-hander Hunter Harvey who was shut down with elbow soreness. It's been such a tough few years for Harvey, who had Tommy John surgery and missed time this year with a shoulder issue that was a result of him being hit by a ball in the dugout. Harvey pitched just 12 2/3 innings last year and has thrown only 32 1/3 this season, going 1-2 with a 5.57 ERA for the Baysox.

"Throw out that you were hoping if he was healthy that he might be here. Seems like just when he's getting ready to blossom it's another thing. I was talking to someone yesterday that is close to him and this is a challenge for him emotionally and mentally. I really feel for him.

"I'm sure they are going to image it and see if there are any changes. Maybe it's just soreness and inflammation and you have to let it quiet down. That is what I'm hoping," said Showalter.

Hess express is rolling: O's right-hander David Hess has retired the first 12 batters today on 46 pitches with four strikeouts. Neither pitcher has allowed a hit and it's 0-0 through four. Toronto lefty Thomas Pannone is at 68 pitches.

Through six: The O's are being no-hit through six and Toronto has just one hit in a game that remains 0-0. Hess has fanned a career-high seven and is at 71 pitches.

Through seven: Kendrys Morales' solo homer off Hess in the bottom of the seventh puts Toronto up one. Morales has been on a roll, as it is his fourth homer of this series. At the end of seven, Blue Jays lead the O's, 1-0.