Castillo ready to return to active roster

The Orioles are expected to activate catcher Welington Castillo from the disabled list prior to Tuesday night's series opener against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

A team official said it sounds like Castillo will be ready, which will lead to another roster move.

Castillo was eligible to return on Thursday while the Orioles were in D.C., but they decided to send him on a short injury rehab assignment.

Castillo served as designated hitter in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader at Double-A Bowie and moved behind the plate yesterday. He went 2-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts.

The Orioles placed Castillo on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to May 1 with right shoulder tendinitis. Castillo said he felt the discomfort dating back to spring training and during his stint with the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic.

Castillo is batting .314/.333/.443 with six doubles, a home run and six RBIs in 17 games with the Orioles, who signed him to a $6 million deal on Dec. 16 that also included a player option for 2018 worth $7 million.

Caleb Joseph has received the bulk of the starts in Castillo's absence and he hit his second home run yesterday in a 9-8 loss to the Royals. Backup Francisco Peña homered twice Saturday night, doubling his career total.

Peña is 4-for-7 in three games this season. He's out of options and likely will be designated for assignment to clear room for Castillo on the 25-man roster. The Orioles have an expanded bench, but they're not going to carry three catchers.

Because he has a prior outright, Peña can refuse an assignment and elect free agency if he clears waivers.

Joseph is 11-for-21 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBIs in his last five games to raise his average from .174 to .284.

Wade Miley will be on the mound Tuesday night and Joseph has caught six of his seven starts. Castillo figures to get a second chance in the series opener following today's off-day.

Meanwhile, the Orioles placed left-hander Andrew Faulkner on Triple-A Norfolk's roster for tonight's game against Gwinnett. He was on Single-A Delmarva's roster while throwing at extended spring training.

The Orioles acquired Faulkner, 24, from the Rangers on April 6 for a player to be named later or cash.

Faulkner made his major league debut on Aug. 31, 2015 in San Diego and appeared in 20 games with the Rangers as a reliever over the past two seasons. He allowed eight earned runs (10 total) and 16 hits in 16 1/3 innings, with seven walks, 11 strikeouts and five home runs.

Left-handers are 5-for-30 (.167) against Faulkner and right-handers are 11-for-35 (.314) with five home runs.

Faulkner made 41 appearances (one start) last summer at Triple-A Round Rock and went 5-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 45 1/3 innings. He's 35-24 with a 3.49 ERA in 165 career minor league games, striking out 460 batters in 511 innings.

Since joining Norfolk from extended spring training on May 3, outfielder Mike Yastrzemski has gone 14-for-38 .368 with five doubles, 10 RBIs and five multi-hit games.

Catcher Chance Sisco delivered Norfolk's first pinch-hit home run yesterday since Rhyne Hughes on April 18, 2011.