Trumbo chooses knee surgery (plus other notes, O's lead 7-5)

The latest examination of Mark Trumbo's right knee today brought the same recommendation for surgery, which the veteran will undergo while ending his 2018 season.

The Orioles passed along the information this afternoon, saying that Trumbo will decide on a date and location for the procedure within the next few days.

Trumbo flew out to Northern California for the latest consultation. He was shut down and placed on the 10-day disabled list after an Aug. 19 game in Cleveland with discomfort in the knee that first surfaced in May.

The process for making a decision on surgery included another MRI and opinions from Dr. James Andrews and team orthopedists Dr. Michael Jacobs Dr. Leigh Ann Curl. Trumbo received an injection in the knee to alleviate the inflammation, but his mobility has been limited.

Manager Buck Showalter knew that Trumbo was leaning toward having surgery, but said earlier today that the decision could change with "another strong opinion." However, Trumbo didn't receive any information in California that differed from what he'd already been told.

"Mark's doing it the right way," Showalter said. "This is as much of a quality-of-life thing down the road, but I have a lot of confidence that he's going to be a good player for us healthy next year.

"But it's also, Mark's looking at, as you're kind of getting toward the end of a good career you also want to think about, 'Is this something that, if I do this, three or four years from now am I going to have to go back and do this? Is there any way to solve both potential issues?'

"Nothing major. It's nothing that can't be fixed. He just wants to make sure he takes in all the opinions. If you know Mark, he knows he needs to get something done there and he's really concerned about the time frame and being ready for spring training next year."

Trumbo, who enters the final year of his contract in 2019, batted .261/.313/.452 with 12 doubles, 17 home runs and 44 RBIs in 90 games after starting the year on the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle. He had five homers and 14 RBIs this month.

Manager Buck Showalter and executive vice president Dan Duquette met to discuss September call-ups. Some players will arrive on the first eligible date and others will trickle in later.

"I think there will be some guys coming up at different intervals," Showalter said. "Roger (McDowell) and I have kept a chart on all the potential call-ups and the people we have here about where they are in innings and appearances and a lot of different things. And also the eyeball effect.

"You can have somebody under that you don't like, physically, where they are. You can have somebody right on the cusp. You want to take advantage and get them as far as you can get them without putting them in harm's way. So, there are a lot of different variables. There's the eye test and there's the statistical test."

The Arizona Fall League rosters are expected to be revealed on Thursday. The Orioles' representatives will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Double-A Bowie outfielder Austin Hays and Triple-A Norfolk infielder Steve Wilkerson will be included on the roster. Baysox catcher Martin Cervenka could join them, but he'd have to re-sign as a minor league free agent.

Wilkerson is on the seven-day disabled list with a hamstring injury, but he's expected to begin baseball activities in the first week of September "if everything continues to progress," Showalter said.

The Orioles think Wilkerson could play in games by Sept. 4 or 5, but they'd have to create some opportunities if Norfolk doesn't qualify for the International League playoffs.

Showalter said the Orioles won't have a taxi-squad camp after the season in Sarasota to keep players ready in case they're needed later in the month. It's been done in the past.

Cedric Mullins is expected back in the lineup when the Orioles play a three-game series in Kansas City that starts Friday night. Showalter wants to be careful with Mullins' hip and also take another look at John Andreoli in center field.

"Cedric has got tomorrow off, too, and I know we've got three right-handed starters in Kansas City," Showalter said. "But we, as an organization, want to see John in center, and (Mullins) is going to get plenty of playing time between now and the end of the season. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get this completely out of the way. But I'm not going to tell you that's the chief reason he's not playing. That wouldn't be honest."

Showalter also said left-hander Josh Rogers, who won his major league debut last night, will make another start. It could be his last one because he's reaching his innings limit.

Update: Justin Smoak homered off Alex Cobb in the first inning, Kevin Pillar homered in the second and the Blue Jays lead 4-0. Devon Travis had an RBI double in the second and Billy McKinney followed with a sacrifice fly.

Update II: Trey Mancini led off the fourth inning with his 20th home run and third in the last four nights to cut the lead to 4-1.

Update III: Adam Jones hit a grand slam in the fifth to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead.

Update IV: Devon Travis hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the sixth to tie the game 5-5.

Update V: Andreoli reached on an infield hit with one out in the sixth inning, stole second base and scored on Austin Wynns' single to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead. Two wild pitches by Ryan Tepera allowed Wynns to score and make it 7-5.