Hyde on Lucas, Kline, Wojciechowski and more (O's lose 6-3)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The bullpen has changed again for the Orioles tonight with Josh Lucas activated from the injured list and Branden Kline optioned last night to Triple-A Norfolk.

There's less shuffling in a casino.

Lucas hasn't pitched since working three innings on June 13 and trying to ignore the tightness in his shoulder. He didn't require an injury-rehab assignment.

It isn't unprecedented, of course. Others have returned without joining an affiliate, including first baseman Chris Davis.

"In Lucas' case, he has been throwing a couple of sides and we felt comfortable with him just coming off the 10-day and being ready to go because it was nothing major," said manager Brandon Hyde. "We just didn't feel like he needed a rehab assignment. We needed a player and he was here, so he's active and ready to go.

"It's case by case."

Kline was optioned after facing three batters last night, allowing all of them to reach and surrendering a three-run homer to Kevin Kiermaier that gave Tampa Bay the lead.

Hyde met with Kline for a while following the game, offering some counsel inside his office.

"He's got such great stuff," Hyde said. "He's got a 97-98 mph fastball with a split that's getting better and a slider that he's just inconsistent with, and inconsistent with fastball command. And as soon as he's able to harness those things ...

"The good thing with Branden is he gets left-handers out too. He's kind of a reverse-splits guy. He gets lefties out. So I felt really good about putting him in the game in that spot last night. It just didn't happen for him. And it's not about the stuff anymore, it's about being consistent and being able to understand when to attack hitters, how to put guys away, being able not to walk the leadoff guy with the lead. All those sorts of things that, hopefully, he's going to improve on."

Hyde said he hadn't received any information about the second opinion on Rogers' elbow. Rogers visited today with Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas.

"I'm still waiting to hear what's come back from that," Hyde said.

Asher Wojciechowski becomes the 14th pitcher to start for the Orioles after they selected his contract today.

"We'll see what we've got," Hyde said.

"It's a guy who's going to get an opportunity to start in the American League East, and he's got some experience. I saw him pitch a couple of times with Cincinnati. There are some guys who are pretty familiar with him from being in spring training with us last year. But yeah, you never really know until he goes out there and, hopefully, he can give us some length and give us some innings."

For the Rays
Austin Meadows DH
Brandon Lowe 2B
Tommy Pham LF
Ji-Man Choi 1B
Avisaíl Garcia RF
Kevin Kiermaier CF
Willy Adames SS
Joey Wendle 3B
Mike Zunino C

Charlie Morton RHP

Update: Brandon Lowe homered in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.

Update II: Chris Davis homered in the third to tie the game.

Update III: Wojciechowski walked the leadoff hitter in the third and Lowe's RBI single broke the tie.

Update IV: Avisaíl García's two-run single off Wojciechowski in the sixth gave Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead.

Update V: Tommy Pham's two-run double off Jimmy Yacabonis in the seventh increased the lead to 6-1.

Update VI: Chance Sisco hit a two-run homer in the ninth, but the Orioles lost 6-3.