Asher optioned, updates on Gentry and Hardy, and more

The Orioles have recalled pitcher Gabriel Ynoa from Triple-A Norfolk and are putting him in the bullpen for today's series finale against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Pitcher Alec Asher was optioned to Double-A Bowie, with the Baysox's season extending into the Eastern League playoffs.

Ynoa appeared in four games with the Orioles this season and was 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 12 2/3 innings. He tossed six scoreless innings against the White Sox after replacing Wade Miley on May 5 and went on the disabled list the next day with a strained hamstring.

Ynoa was 6-9 with a 5.25 ERA in 21 starts with Norfolk. He pitched Wednesday and allowed two earned runs in six innings against Charlotte. He's strung together four consecutive quality starts.

Asher worked the last two innings last night and gave up a two-run homer to Darwin Barney. One run was charged to Richard Rodriguez.

The reason for optioning a player in September?

"If you want to keep them pitching, keep them active," said manager Buck Showalter. "If you want to make some room on a crowded bullpen bench, locker room."

Outfielder Craig Gentry confirmed that he'll see a hand specialist later today after fracturing his right middle finger Friday night. He had a brace on the finger as he stood at his locker.

"I'm sure I'll find out more after talking to him, kind of get a timetable and all that kind of stuff. But right now I don't really have any answers," he said.

"I mean, it's extremely disappointing. We're in the playoff run and I was getting got play a lot, felt like I was playing well and getting a chance to contribute and this happens. It's really frustrating."

Gentry is expected to come off the disabled list when eligible and be used as a pinch-runner.

"I can put a guard on this thing and be able to pinch-run for sure, but that's up to them," he said. "But, yeah, I'm definitely willing to do any of that stuff."

The injury occurred as Gentry attempted to lay down a bunt.

"I guess I got my finger around a little too much and the ball was running in and I still attempted to bunt at it and it got my finger," said Gentry, who struck out and was replaced the next inning.

"I knew it hurt, but it's happened before and I didn't think it was broken. But I looked and I had blood all in my batting glove, so I knew it was bleeding a little bit, but I didn't know it was a gash as bad as it was. I honestly didn't think it was going to be something like this."

The Orioles will miss Gentry's speed on the basepaths and don't have an obvious replacement in the minors. Chris Dickerson had an MRI on his knee and no longer is a consideration.

"We don't really have that skill set at the Triple-A level," Showalter said. "That's why guys like Craig are in such demand. If the doctor clears him, I'm hoping you'll see him be a pinch-runner for us in eight days."

Bowie outfielder Austin Hays has been discussed as a possible call-up, but it doesn't seem likely to happen at the moment.

"I think we'd look at all options, but what does he do better than some people that we have in Triple-A or already here?" Showalter said. "You could ask that question about three or four guys. I think if you jump a guy's time to be on the roster before you have to do it, there's some real things that you may regret. It's one of those things you'd rather have happen next spring.

"As Andy McPhail used to call it, that's front office malpractice."

Shortstop J.J. Hardy threw on the field today and expects to swing a bat on Monday.

Hardy received a cortisone injection in his right elbow on Friday and hopes to be playing for the Orioles this week.

"I'm getting better, I'm getting better," he said. "The wrist isn't really an issue. The shoulder was an issue a little bit. Now, it's the forearm. Kind of tennis elbow stuff."

Asked about a timetable for coming off the 60-day disabled list, Hardy replied, "Hopefully soon."

"It's got to be a few days from now at least," he said. "I haven't swung since the shot. I don't know. Soon. If not soon, then there'll probably have to be something else. Like someone else might have to come up to fill a spot, like another infielder. I don't know. We'll see."

Showalter didn't discount the possibility of Hardy being ready for the upcoming Yankees series.

"I'm hoping that he's a player at the latest after the (Thursday) off-day. I'm hoping that at some point in the Yankee series that he's available to us," Showalter said.

"I'm hoping that in the past that anytime he's gotten this tennis elbow thing, the shot's cleared it up in a couple of days, three days. I'm hoping that happens. If that happens, I think he'll be usable.

"It could be that quickly. That's the only thing. He's got to get that elbow manageable. That's why we stopped, because it wasn't helping any if he continued to play there, so he got the shot. If that manages in the next day or so, if it's real good today, that could move pretty quickly. If it doesn't by, say, Thursday by the off-day, we'd probably think about doing something for Cleveland, I would think."

Hardy said he isn't frustrated by the elbow soreness. He understands the cause of it.

"I tried to squeeze six weeks of spring training into a week and a half," he said. "Spring training for me is always the time to get my shoulder and everything loose. It usually takes that time for me. So, a week and a half, I felt like it was getting better and it was going to be good enough, but this elbow thing kind of came up out of nowhere."

Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander could play in the Arizona Fall League. The Orioles have an open spot for a position player and another one for a pitcher.

If Santander stays on the active roster through the end of the season, he will need to be on it for the first 44 days next season before losing his Rule 5 status.

Shortstop Tim Beckham was the only Oriole taking extra batting practice on the field today. He went hitless last night for only the third time in 31 games since the trade.

Here are the starters for the series against the Yankees at Camden Yards:

Monday: Dylan Bundy vs. Jordan Montgomery
Tuesday: Jeremy Hellickson vs. CC Sabathia
Wednesday: Kevin Gausman vs. Sonny Gray

For the Blue Jays
Teoscar Hernández LF
Josh Donaldson 3B
Justin Smoak 1B
José Bautista RF
Kendrys Morales DH
Miguel Montero C
Kevin Pillar CF
Ryan Goins SS
Richard Urena 2B

Brett Anderson LHP

I'm done working for the day. I'll be in the stands watching today's game.