Trumbo sidelined with sore right knee

Mark Trumbo is out of the Orioles lineup for the second consecutive game due to a sore right knee that might require an anti-inflammatory injection.

Trumbo pinch-hit last night in Game 2 of the doubleheader and drew a walk in the eighth inning. Catcher Austin Wynns pinch-ran for him. He struck out three times in the opener.

"Mark's knee's barking on him a little bit," said manager Buck Showalter. "I don't like some of the characteristics, so we're going to try to give him most of the second game last night, today and tomorrow. He'll probably get an injection today if I don't use him. We'll see when the doctor gets here."

An off-day on Monday will bring extra rest for Trumbo before the Orioles start a two-game series against the Mets.

"He could play today and he could pinch-hit," Showalter said. "I just want to try to get ahead of this because it could turn into ... I've been asking Brian (Ebel) for about a week since it's kind of flared up. They drained it a couple times to get the fluid off of it.

"Structurally it's in good shape. It's just got some irritation in there, rubbing on the kneecap. Most of that fluid collects behind the knee and not necessarily on top of it, for anybody who's had their knee drained multiple times."

Showalter anticipates that Trumbo will return to the lineup on Tuesday.

"That's the whole idea if we can get through this," he said. "He's a nice weapon off the bench last night. Allowed us to take a run at them."

Trumbo's hitting streak ended last night at 12 games. His five home runs this month are tied for second in the majors and his 12 RBIs rank third.

Jonathan Villar is back at second base today after playing shortstop in Game 2. Showalter isn't necessarily seeking ways to move Villar to the left side of the infield. It just worked out last night with Tim Beckham rested.

Most of Villar's starts in the majors have come at shortstop, last night marking his 258th.

"I think Jonathan's got enough reps there," Showalter said. "We'll get some periodical looks there just to verify what we think. I think we've got a pretty good ... if you look at his track record. He's got a number of games at shortstop. I was looking at it when we first acquired him, positions played in the major leagues and the minor leagues. He started as a shortstop.

"I think we'll get enough looks just to verify what we think there. But I really want to give Tim a good look there, as much as I can. Pete (Jace Peterson) can play there. He's had starts there, too, so we'll see. There will be a lot of things between now and the end of the season."

Showalter wants to give Steve Wilkerson some innings at shortstop upon completion of an injury rehab assignment.

Meanwhile, the bullpen balancing act continues with Showalter needing to create opportunities for the younger arms that arrived in trades while also trying to win games.

Cody Carroll and Evan Phillips have combined for nine walks in seven innings, with seven earned runs and nine total.

"Like we've talked about, that's part of it," Showalter said. "Where's the perfect spot? I mean, I'm not going to let them sit down there three or four days without pitching. I wanted to get Phillips and Cody off the same day. They haven't pitched much back-to-back this year. It might be something we'd like to see.

"I think you've got to rub some of the anxiety off them. Even with somebody like Zach (Britton). Somebody was asking me about some of his challenges in New York. Some of the anxiety gets rubbed off.

"There's that first splash, if you think about Phillips and Carroll's first outing, and then the next one, and somewhere in between all that is a pretty good indicator what they're going to be able to do.

"There's some good arms that came over in the deals that aren't here that might end up being bullpen pieces. I've got one we acquired who's got a chance to be a real good one who's not here yet."

The Orioles are listing Andrew Cashner as Tuesday's starter against the Mets at Camden Yards, but Wednesday is TBD. The Mets are starting left-hander Jason Vargas and Zack Wheeler.