Bundy's return signals another roster move

MINNESOTA - Get ready for the next Orioles roster move, which will be announced later this afternoon while Dylan Bundy comes off the disabled list to make tonight's start against the Twins.

The Orioles are down to a three-man bench, so a pitcher will be subtracted to make room for Bundy. They could option Yefry Ramirez and bring him back Monday as the 26th man to start one of the doubleheader games against the Yankees at Camden Yards. He isn't available before that date after starting Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia.

The rules regarding the 26th man mimic how someone can be recalled in fewer than 10 days to replace an injured player. The Orioles' choices aren't limited by previous transactions.

Jimmy Yacabonis could be the 26th man who starts one of the games or backs up in relief and is returned to Triple-A Norfolk later that night. Creating a spot for him could remove Ryan Meisinger or Paul Fry from the bullpen.

Manager Buck Showalter won't commit to the other starter Monday until he knows how his bullpen is used in Minnesota. Miguel Castro and Mike Wright Jr. are candidates if Yacabonis isn't handed the ball.

Bundy allowed six runs in four June starts spanning 27 1/3 innings. He's surrendered three earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings.

Given the opening day start against the Twins on March 29, Bundy responded with seven scoreless innings and didn't get the decision in a 3-2, 11-inning win. He's 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.150 WHIP in four career games (three starts) against the Twins, and he allowed six runs in five innings in his only start at Target Field.

Logan Morrison is 5-for-15 with a double and two home runs against Bundy.

The Orioles' rotation has produced 41 quality starts this season.

Lance Lynn, one of the free-agent pitchers targeted by the Orioles over the winter, makes his 17th start with the Twins. He's 5-7 with a 5.49 ERA and 1.680 WHIP in 80 1/3 innings, and he's averaging a career-high 5.6 walks per nine innings. His previous high was 3.8 last year over 33 starts with the Cardinals.

Lynn hasn't gone more than five innings in his last three starts and was gone Sunday after allowing seven runs in 1 2/3 in an 11-10 loss to the White Sox.

Not the same pitcher who faced the Orioles on March 13 in Fort Myers after signing late with the Twins and tossing three scoreless and hitless innings. He struck out five of 10 batters.

The Twins reached agreement with Lynn on a one-year deal that guaranteed $12 million. The Orioles maintained a dialogue with his agent until the end while also continuing talks with Alex Cobb's agent.

Left-handers are hitting .300 against Lynn this season while right-handers have posted a .250 average. He's 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in seven home starts and 2-5 with a 7.83 ERA in nine road starts.

Lynn is making his fourth career appearance and third start against the Orioles. He's 1-1 with a 7.30 ERA and 1.784 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings.

Mark Trumbo is 5-for-10 with three home runs against Lynn. Trey Mancini is 2-for-3 with a triple and home run.

Manny Machado is a career .333 hitter in 33 games against the Twins. He didn't get traded overnight.

Adam Jones had a double and walk last night and is batting .287, but he hasn't homered since June 2 against the Yankees. Twenty-six games have passed.

Outfielder Craig Gentry remains on the disabled list retroactive to June 24 with a fractured rib on his left side. Gentry said there's slight improvement, but he isn't ready to start baseball activities.

I wrote last night that Chris Davis' 1,305th strikeout tied Cal Ripken Jr. for the most in Orioles' history, a fact made more startling considering that the Hall of Famer played 21 seasons and appeared in 3,001 games.

Ripken never struck out more than 97 times in one year, and his career high came during his MVP season in 1983.

Davis didn't strike out in back-to-back games on Sunday and Tuesday for the first time since April 5-6.

Reggie Jackson is baseball's all-time strikeout leader, with 2,597. Davis has amassed 1,607 in his 11 seasons, including 103 this year in 257 at-bats.

Though Davis is in his eighth season in Baltimore, he arrived in 2011 a day short of the non-waiver trade deadline and played in 31 games for the Orioles..