Cashner undergoes MRI on knee (O's lead 4-3)

Andrew Cashner underwent an MRI on his left knee today at noon and likely will receive a cortisone injection after being charged with eight runs in two-plus innings last night in a 10-0 loss to the Athletics.

The examination didn't reveal any structural damage in the knee, but Cashner could miss his next start.

"It was good news," said manager Buck Showalter. "Structurally, he's in good shape. He's got some discomfort in there that hopefully we can resolve in the next few days and he can make some more starts for us before the season is over. But ask me in a couple days and we'll see how he responds to the cortisone."

Showalter said Cashner has been dealing with the knee issue for a while, but has been able to pitch through it. Cashner is 4-15 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.582 WHIP in 28 starts this season.

"He's pitched well with it and sometimes not," Showalter said. "But I think it got to the point last night that he and we just wanted to make sure there wasn't something structural and wasn't anything more than tendinitis or whatever.

"I think we've got, without going into detail, we've got an idea what it is and at this point - nothing that's going to need to be surgically corrected, but can go on without the risk of hurting it worse or whatever."

Cashner's next turn comes up Monday against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards, but whether he starts will be determined later.

"Let me see in the next day or two how the cortisone manages," Showalter said. "Obviously, he pitched real well the first two innings last (start), but he has a little trouble getting over his front side sometimes and I think that's probably what the challenge has been a little bit.

"He's always been a good manipulator of the ball with his hand, but there are certain things you really have to do."

The rotation remains in flux with Alex Cobb missing his next start, slated for Sunday against the White Sox, and unlikely to return before the Sept. 21 game in the Bronx. He won't be allowed to pick up a baseball for a while to prevent the seams from opening up the cut on his right middle finger.

"I look at it maybe oversimplified," Showalter said. "We gave him six days and he had an issue, so we know it will be at least seven. We'll take it further and see what goes. The difference now, I'm hoping, he's been asked and he's not going to throw. This is a guy who's always tinkering with it.

"I know where I expect us to be looking at it. But understand if it's going to be, say, the 21st, 22nd or 23rd, whatever it is, two or three days before that he's got to have a workday. So, do the math. It will be a while."

Rookies David Hess and Josh Rogers have been moved to the bullpen. Rookies Luis Ortiz and Yefry Ramírez start the first two games of the White Sox series. Chicago is starting James Shields, Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito.

"I look at it as a chance to see some other people we wouldn't have, OK?" Showalter said. "I really do. And who those people are, I've got a list of six or seven candidates and Dan (Duquette) and I talked about it again today and we'll take it day to day. I know who've I've got long and short and whatever and I know I want to be able to back up Luis and Yefry on Friday and Saturday, and we'll see where we are on Sunday. So stay tuned. It's kind of a day to day thing."

Left-hander Sean Gilmartin is a candidate to start, but Showalter values him as a backup to the right-handed starters.

The Orioles are expected to bring up another pitcher, but they want to stay away from anyone who's been idle for the last few weeks.

For the Athletics
Ramón Laureano CF
Matt Chapman 3B
Jed Lowrie 2B
Khris Davis DH
Matt Olson 1B
Stephen Piscotty RF
Marcus Semien SS
Nick Martini LF
Josh Phegley C

Brett Anderson LHP

Update: Tim Beckham had a two-run single in the first inning to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

Update II: Stephen Piscotty homered with two outs in the second inning to reduce the lead to 2-1.

Update III: John Andreoli and Breyvic Valera drove in runs in the fourth to expand the lead to 4-1, but Nick Martini responded with an RBI single in the fifth.

Update IV: Paul Fry walked Matt Olson with the bases loaded in the eighth to reduce the lead to 4-3. Mychal Givens entered with one out and retired the next two batters to protect the lead.