Chris Davis provides latest update on elbow

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis must be shut down for 72 hours after receiving a cortisone injection yesterday in his right elbow to reduce the inflammation and hasten his recovery and eventual return to the lineup. However, he reported this afternoon that his condition is improving and expressed a desire to start playing again.

The cautious approach will remain in order before Davis can get back into it.

"Basically, it was kind of a plateau in the rehab," he said, explaining why the club sent him for the injection. "I wasn't really moving forward, wasn't going backward, it was just kind of same thing for the last couple of days. We basically took a conservative approach, obviously, with the time that we have available. This is something we want to try to get ahead of before the regular season starts, and we knew that going in. There was no reason to rush, there was no point in trying to fight through it and go out there and play and get at-bats, just to have to deal with this for the next six or seven months.

"I'm feeling better today. Usually, about 72 hours after you get the shot is when you kind of start moving around and doing some activity, but they want to let it sit for a couple of days and make sure that the fluid gets in there and does its job. I wanted to play tonight, but it was kind of out of the question. And that's the reason why (Brian) Ebel's been so hands-on.

"I think he knows my nature, he knows that as soon as I feel somewhat good that I want to go out there and start getting after it. But ultimately it's just not beneficial for me to go out there and keep trying to grind through it, especially not in spring training."

Davis hasn't played since leading off in a March 2 game against the Pirates. He underwent an MRI the following day that came back clean.

"Unfortunately, time waits for no man. Write that down," said Davis, who's 2-for-13 with one home run, three RBIs, three walks and seven strikeouts.

"You have to understand everything that's going on around here. These guys have known me long enough and been around me long enough to know that I like to work, I like to be out there, move around, be physical, but obviously in this situation it's a little bit better to kind of take it slow. But yeah, I feel good, I feel a lot better.

"It was really, there was just fluid in the elbow and I think a lot of that was from the inflammation of the surrounding areas. The ligament on the MRI looks good. In fact, it looks really good, which was great to hear. But over time, the amount of throws, the amount of swings that I do, that I take on a daily basis, they add up and muscles start compensating for fatigue and things like that and I think that was kind of the issue. Just kind of blew up on me.

"There's a difference between pain and soreness. I'm not sure that I really know the difference between the two, but I'm learning. That's for sure."

Over in Fort Myers, Hunter Harvey allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in three innings against the Red Sox, with one walk, three strikeouts and Mookie Betts' home run. He also committed a throwing error and threw two wild pitches.

For the Phillies
Ryan Flaherty SS
Rhys Hoskins LF
Nick Williams RF
Carlos Santana 1B
Aaron Altherr CF
Maikel Franco 3B
Pedro Florimon 2B
Cameron Rupp C

Nick Pivetta RHP