Joseph's expanded role, Jones' smaller strike zone (game postponed)

WASHINGTON - Tonight's game won't start on time due to continuing rain, which picked up in intensity around 6 p.m.

Caleb Joseph is using Welington Castillo's stint on the disabled list to work his way back into the lineup and raise his average.

It climbed to .240 on Monday after his 4-for-4 night, a significant gain after going 0-for-12 in his first three starts.

Joseph is batting .270 in 10 games this month while Castillo has been recovering from right shoulder tendinitis. He's produced three of his five RBIs - five more than he totaled last summer - in May.

Manager Buck Showalter is starting Joseph for the 10th time in the last 11 games, but Francisco Peña will be behind the plate Friday night and Sunday afternoon in Kansas City.

"He's got a little thing with his wrist," Showalter said. "Not bothering him to play, but I want to give him a day. He's been catching a lot."

Castillo will serve as the designated hitter Friday and Saturday at Double-A Bowie, catch Sunday and join the Orioles in Detroit. He's still going to be the starter and spend most nights behind the dish. It isn't becoming a time share.

"It's just good to know that (Joseph) is capable of doing that," Showalter said. "He's in a good place now and you want to keep him there. We're looking forward to getting Welington back because he's going to help us. I'll continue to try to keep both of them in the mix, with Welington getting the majority of the playing time."

Adam Jones drew his 10th walk last night, leaving him 29 behind his career high set last year.

A concerted effort to find other ways to reach base as he gets older? That's one theory.

"I think so," Showalter said. "Believe me, it's been talked about with he and I and he and Scott (Coolbaugh). He knows. Adam's as sharp a guy as you want to be around. He knows, but there's a fine line between that aggression and trying to be selective and not lose your aggressiveness. It's a line you walk every night.

"It seems like a couple times I thought he was going to get out of it and he's gotten right back into it again. That makes him a real tough player for pitchers to keep him from doing some damage, whether it be a walk or a base hit.

"This is the best I've seen him with that since I've been with him."

Jones also is drawing praise for his defense, a deeper set-up in center field credited for his ability to run down more balls at the wall. This may be his finest glove work since early in the 2015 season.

"Adam listens to stuff," Showalter said. "He's not stubborn. Adam listens to ways to get better. He steps back, critiques himself. He's a hard critic. He listens to things that people may ... but he'll decipher the B.S. and get it out of the way.

"Adam's very approachable about stuff. Just don't bring some B.S. But most of the time it's something he's already thought about. It's his idea anyway.

"His shoulder was bothering him some last year throwing. He's throwing as well as I've ever seen him throw."

Positioning, health or a combination of the two?

"I think it's a combination," Showalter said. "People say, 'Oh, he's playing too shallow.' Then ask the pitchers. I think it's more about selective positioning. You've got a man on second, two outs and you're not going to play him deep. You're trying to cut that off.

"Last night was a good example in that situation with the base hit that (Anthony) Rendon had. How does (Bryce) Harper not score on that ball? He's a great baserunner. And that's because Adam got to it quick and was playing shallower. You can't just say, 'Play everybody right here.' He's too smart for that."

Update: Tonight's game has been postponed. No word on when it will be made up. We're waiting for more information.