More on Hardy, Joseph, O'Day, the rotation, All-Stars (O's down 6-0)

BOSTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter sounded an encouraging tone today while providing updates on shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Caleb Joseph. It wasn't the same with reliever Darren O'Day, however, but let's start with the two position players.

Hardy is scheduled to play three games at Double-A Bowie while testing his left foot and could come off the disabled list by "Friday at the earliest," Showalter said, "but it's going to be J.J's call."

"Dave Anderson is there, Brian Graham is there and we'll let J.J. make that call," Showalter said. "Had a base hit to right, flare, broken-bat flare, made a couple great plays. Great tag, they said. It was good news, as good as you can expect. Someone brought it to me in the dugout last night about the fourth or fifth inning."

Joseph also is in Bowie, but only to work out while recovering from a surgical procedure related to a testicular injury.

"Caleb got cleared today by the doctor," Showalter said. "Unless he has any problems, he won't actually see a doctor again. On the 27th, it will be four weeks and he'd be available to catch there.

"He started taking batting practice and throwing yesterday, and he'll do that again and tomorrow and then meet us at the ballpark on Friday, and potentially DH for Frederick on Friday or Saturday, start that rehab. Position player gets 20 days and that would carry him through the first part of July. If it goes perfect, it's a matter of how many days he needs to catch starting on the 27th. Trying to match that up with the people down there.

"He can actually catch some bullpens between now and then. Just got to stay away from hitters with foul balls and stuff. So far so good."

O'Day's strained right hamstring hasn't improved dramatically. He's eligible to return on Sunday, but it won't happen.

O'Day's stint on an injury rehab assignment should be brief, but it's not imminent.

"It won't be long. He'll need some (appearances)," Showalter said.

"He's moving slow, he's moving slow. Little by little, but not moving quickly."

The rotation is coming into focus with Kevin Gausman starting tonight and Tyler Wilson Thursday night in Boston, and Mike Wright starting Friday night and Yovani Gallardo Saturday afternoon against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. Chris Tillman is the assumed starter in Sunday's series finale.

"Tyler was in the bullpen last night just for protection," Showalter said. "We felt like he was going to pitch (tomorrow) all along. And Mike's scheduled to pitch in his normal spot, so to speak. But we're not going to put Mike in the bullpen tonight because we have enough down there, knock on wood. If we got in extra innings and got really extended, he'd be available to us in the bullpen tonight. But he'll start out here in the spacious dugout."

The latest All-Star balloting showed Manny Machado as the only Oriole to lead at his position. Mark Trumbo is fourth among outfielders, but he should be chosen if he isn't voted in as a starter.

Closer Zach Britton also appears to be a lock and Chris Tillman has made a strong case for his inclusion. Matt Wieters is second among catchers, and while he won't catch the Royals' Salvador Perez, he could be chosen as a reserve.

Reliever Brad Brach deserves to go, but he doesn't have a defined role in the bullpen and could get squeezed out. Life isn't always fair.

Does it matter to Showalter if his players are included in the Midsummer Classic?

"Yeah, of course it does," he replied. "Some of them, I'd rather use the time off in a perfect world, but I want them to get everything that's coming to them.

"I'm really biased because I get to watch them play every day and prepare. I'd love for them if that's what they want to do. There's not a guy here that doesn't want to, but we realize that everybody's got a case for their players. But I'm awfully biased because I get to watch them every day."

Update: The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the second inning on Travis Shaw's RBI double. Hanley Ramirez scored after drawing a one-out walk and advancing on Chris Young's single.

Kevin Gausman threw nine pitches in the first inning and 23 in the second.

Update II: Gausman has allowed a season-high six runs, the last three scoring on Hanley Ramirez's home run with no outs in the third inning.

The first five batters reached against him, with Xander Bogaerts and David Ortiz delivering RBI singles. Bogaerts reached on a comebacker that Gausman couldn't handle.