Castillo set for rehab assignment at Bowie (O's lose 7-6)

WASHINGTON - Orioles catcher Welington Castillo won't get his wish to skip a minor league rehab assignment.

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed today that Castillo will throw to bases on Saturday and report to Double-A Bowie the following day. Castillo is likely to play in one game before the Orioles activate him from the 10-day disabled list.

The Baysox have a 2 p.m. game Sunday versus Richmond at Prince George's Stadium.

"We're not going to take him all the way to Kansas City and fly him back to Bowie and then fly him back potentially to Detroit," Showalter said. "After tomorrow's game, he'll stay here and work with Bowie.

"If he gets through Saturday and is good, then it's kind of a baseball decision."

First base coach Wayne Kirby will miss the first two games in Kansas City this weekend to attend his daughter Caylee's graduation from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He'll return to the club on Sunday.

Minor league infield instructor Dave Anderson will replace Kirby. Anderson currently is at Single-A Frederick.

Closer Zach Britton began treatments on his left forearm today in Sarasota. He's going to start his throwing program in about 10 days.

The Orioles have signed outfielder Adam Brett Walker to a minor league deal. Walker will head down to Sarasota for a few days before reporting to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Braves claimed Walker, 25, off waivers from the Orioles in January. He was batting a combined .125/.192/.341 (11-for-88) at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett, with four doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs and 39 strikeouts.

In his two previous seasons, Walker hit 31 home runs and struck out 195 times in 502 at-bats at Double-A Chattanooga in 2015 and hit 27 home runs and led the minors with 202 strikeouts in 478 at-bats at Triple-A Rochester in 2016.

The Orioles designated Walker for assignment on Jan. 20 to clear a spot for Mark Trumbo on the 40-man roster. Now, he's back in the organization.

Update: Seven of the first 11 Orioles reached against Stephen Strasburg and they built a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Caleb Joseph had an RBI single, Wade Miley reached on a bunt single to load the bases, Seth Smith flied to deep left-center field and Adam Jones poked an RBI single into right field.

Update II: Wade Miley walked Anthony Rendon with two outs in the fourth inning, Matt Wieters collected his second hit and Michael Taylor singled to cut the lead to 3-1.

Update III: Mark Trumbo followed Chris Davis' two-out single in the fifth inning with a two-run homer to increase the lead to 5-1.

Update IV: The Nats loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and settled for one run to reduce the Orioles' lead to 5-2. Miley allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, with four walks and five strikeouts. He threw 119 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Mychal Givens will work the sixth.

Update V: Manny Machado homered off Blake Treinen with two outs in the seventh to give the Orioles a 6-2 lead.

Update VI: Michael Taylor hit a two-run homer off Alec Asher in the eighth, one run charged to Donnie Hart, and the Orioles lead is down to 6-4.

Update VII: Matt Wieters' two-run single off Brad Brach with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning gave the Nationals a 7-6 victory.

Jayson Werth led off the inning with a home run. Bryce Harper doubled, Daniel Murphy was walked intentionally with one out and Anthony Rendon singled to load the bases. Wieters lined a single to right field to end the game.