Kimbrel says he's fine after yesterday's shortened live batting practice (O's lineup)

SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel cut short yesterday’s live batting practice session by about five pitches due to some tightness in his lower body. He said this morning that he’s fine and is scheduled to pitch again on Monday.

Kimbrel was facing James McCann when the discomfort became apparently. He threw one more pitch and a member of the athletic training staff approached him near the bench after he walked off the mound.

“The live BP session went all right yesterday,” Kimbrel said. “The ball was coming out like I wanted it to for the most part. Toward the end, started getting a little tight in my lower body, so instead of kind of trying to push through it, being where we are now … I thought it would be beneficial to come in and just start my workout and get ready to come back for Monday instead of questioning whether I need to keep going out there.

“It’s early in camp. There’s no reason to do that. I was happy how the ball was coming out of my hand before that, so I just shut it down and came in and had some things worked on and feel better today and should be good to go tomorrow.”

This type of discomfort isn’t uncommon for Kimbrel in spring training, as he told a teammate yesterday after it surfaced.

“I really work on staying on my back hip and staying on my back side,” he said. “My first live BP I felt like I wasn’t getting in my legs like I should. I felt a little tall. So I kind of had the intention of going out there and being a little more in my legs yesterday. I was, I felt good, but then it got a little tight.

“Overall, I felt great. I felt like I just needed to say, ‘Hey, there’s no reason to try to pitch through this tightness,’ and came in, got it worked on, and should be good to go.”

Kimbrel threw 28 pitches in his first live BP.

“The last thing I wanted to do was throw 30 pitches, have a day off and then do it again,” he said.

Cole Irvin starts this afternoon against the Pirates in Bradenton. Ryan Mountcastle and McCann will be in the lineup after sitting out yesterday’s 4-3 win over the Red Sox in Sarasota.

Relievers Bryan Baker and Keegan Akin have their bags packed for the trip.

The Orioles haven't posted their lineup.

Ronald Guzmán, the former first baseman who’s converting to pitcher, reported to camp this morning. He had visa issues.

For the Pirates

Oneil Cruz SS
Bryan Reynolds LF
Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B
Jack Suwinski CF
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Yasmani Grandal C
Connor Joe RF
Liover Peguero 2B
Nick Gonzales DH

Mitch Keller RHP

For the Orioles

Colton Cowser CF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
James McCann C
Heston Kjerstad LF
Jordan Westburg 3B
Jorge Mateo SS
Sam Hilliard DH
Nick Maton 2B
Kyle Stowers RF

Cole Irvin LHP