Matt Wieters on his return to Orioles lineup tonight

For the first time since last Monday, catcher Matt Wieters is back in the Orioles lineup tonight, catching and batting sixth. He got hit in the right foot in New York a week ago and was on the active roster, but missed six games.

"It has gotten better each day and moving around is no problem now," Wieters said this afternoon. "That is what we were waiting for, to be able to run and walk with no hindrance. Feels good to get back out there.

"It is something to where the foot is a sensitive area. You don't want to miss any time, but when it first happened, I thought it was more than just a bruise. Was hoping it would not be this long. Caleb (Joseph) did a great job, especially in this heat. That is what this team is about, when someone is down, someone steps up. Now I have to try and keep that going."

Does Wieters feel the foot injury will bother him moving forward?

"I think we're past the sensitive part to it, now it's just getting some time. Hopefully we'll just play and as time goes it will get completely better."

Over the weekend, we saw O's pitchers using their off-speed pitches often. It worked against Cleveland. Wieters gave Joseph part of the credit for that. You wonder if that will become a blueprint of sorts for O's starting pitchers moving forward - more use of their secondary pitches.

"He really helped with (Dylan) Bundy and (Kevin) Gausman, just making them use their off-speed pitches. We're really suggestion boxes back there, but he was able to convince them that their off-speed stuff is good and they should trust it more.

"I don't think there is a blueprint for pitching or everyone would do the same. But I think, especially with young guys that come up with such good fastballs, you are kind of learning your off-speed stuff at the big league level. I think more than anything it is confidence in being able to throw it. The hitters know what kind of fastballs they have. When they have to respect both pitches, it is going to give them an advantage."

Wieters will try to snap a hitting slump he was in at the time of his injury. In 68 games on the year, he is batting .250 with nine homers and 38 RBIs. But he is 1-for-23 over his last eight games and is batting .128 in 12 games in July.