Assorted pregame notes and quotes

The Orioles took batting practice in shorts and T-shirts today because of the heat. The temperature is supposed to climb to 106 degrees tomorrow in Baltimore and 104 on Saturday. Shirts vs. skins? Here's your latest update on the Orioles' futility with runners in scoring position: The Orioles are 2-for-47 in their last nine games and 5-for-58 in their last 11 games. For the year, they rank 12th in the American League with a .242 average with RISP. The Orioles are 12-13 in series openers this year and have dropped three of the last four and seven of their last 11. Five Orioles starting pitchers rank among the top 32 in the American League in lowest run support average: Brian Matusz (third, 3.35), Jake Arrieta (fifth, 3.45), Tommy Hunter (24th, 4.99), Wei-Yin Chen (27th, 5.17) and Jason Hammel (32nd, 5.32). The Orioles have scored three runs or fewer six times in Chen's last seven starts and have totaled 19 runs in those seven games. Eight of those runs came in a June 12 game against the Pirates. In the last 11 games, the Orioles are batting .186 and have collected 13 extra-base hits - seven doubles and six home runs. Their .186 average since June 15 is the lowest in the majors. The Dodgers are second at .205. The Orioles have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 11 games, and their 21 runs since June 15 are the fewest in the majors. Left-hander Troy Patton has posted a 1.26 ERA over his last 12 appearances and 14 1/3 innings since May 23, with two walks and 17 strikeouts. Single-A Delmarva infielder Nicky Delmonico was placed on the disabled list today with a knee injury, believed to be a sprain. He had an MRI today, but the results weren't available. Manager Buck Showalter talked about today's roster move, which included Nick Johnson going on the disabled list. Johnson is eligible to return the day after the All-Star break. "Robby (Brian Roberts) and I both noticed the one swing he grimaced on (last night)," Showalter said. "He's had some weakness and some sharp pain that he hasn't had before. Hopefully, we'll get some good results, and it isn't anything serious. "As you saw in the spring, we used him a lot to try to make sure that wasn't something that was going to flare up early. But I don't want to start acting like this is something that's done. We're hoping it's some scar tissue. Richie (Bancells) and them have been doing a lot of massage stuff through the year to keep the scar tissue from really building up. Try to keep it soft in there. He had a lot of problems with it last night. "I feel a little bit for Nick because he knows this area has been an issue for him. He's had a lot of surgeries on that area, so I hope it has something to do with some of the healing from those surgeries, as opposed to something giving way in there." Xavier Avery, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, gives the Orioles another pure outfielder to go with Adam Jones. He was summoned to Baltimore yesterday, as the Orioles considered possible roster moves. "It was a pretty easy transition," Showalter said. Showalter said he'll try to play Avery "as much as he allows me to, if that makes any sense." Showalter confirmed that left-hander Dana Eveland will start Saturday against the Indians. "Talking to him some yesterday, he'll probably be equipped to go somewhere close to 80 (pitches)," Showalter said. "We'll see if Cleveland has anything to say about that."