Orioles place O'Neill on injured list, plus other notes before Game 1

DETROIT – The Orioles couldn’t wait any longer on Tyler O’Neill.

Prior to today’s doubleheader, the Orioles placed O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his neck and recalled outfielder Dylan Carlson from Triple-A Norfolk.

The move is backdated to Thursday and O’Neill is eligible to be reinstated on May 4.

“He’s been dealing with that probably since last week,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“When he’s able to come off the IL, we’re expecting him to not miss any more time.”

O’Neill signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract that includes an opt-out after his first season. He’s appeared in 18 games and is batting .215/.284/.385 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs  - both against the Blue Jays – and 10 RBIs. He’s struck out 21 times in 65 at-bats.

Since April 6, O’Neill is hitting .083 to drag down his numbers. He’s 2-for-21 against left-handers this season.

This is the 15^th trip to the IL for O’Neill, but the first time due to neck soreness.

“He missed a couple games with a similar issue with his neck,” Hyde said. “We gave him a couple days off. It was improving and he tried to play on it, and it’s continuing to bother him a little bit. The right thing to do is try to get him all the way back.”

Carlson went 0-for-4 with an RBI, walk and four strikeouts in a brief stay with the Orioles after Colton Cowser fractured his left thumb. He’s batting .286/.418/.381 in 18 games with Norfolk.

“He’s done a nice job in Triple-A,” Hyde said. “It’s a guy who’s been in the big leagues for a few years, covers us in the outfield in three spots and is switch-hitting. Gives us a little more flexibility.

“T.O., we need to get him right, we need to get him fully healthy.”

Reliever Colin Selby is the 27^th man for today’s doubleheader.

Zach Eflin, on the injured list with a lat strain, threw a bullpen session yesterday and is scheduled to do it again in the next few days.

Kyle Gibson had a bullpen session earlier today.

“It sounds like it went well and we’re kind of planning that out now,” Hyde said. “He should be close.”

Brandon Young starts Game 1 in his second outing in the majors. He allowed three runs and seven hits in four innings against the Reds, was optioned and returned before the minimum 15 days because he replaced injured reliever Cody Poteet.

“I thought he threw strikes early,” Hyde said. “Maybe the execution of the strikes can improve on a little bit, but I thought the stuff was good. He gave us a shot.”