Notes on Adam Jones and tonight's game

NEW YORK - It's becoming the norm within the Orioles organization.

The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association again has chosen center fielder Adam Jones as the Orioles' Heart and Hustle Award winner, which honors active players who "demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game."

The Heart and Hustle Award is the only award in baseball voted on by former players.

That's four and counting for Jones.

"Through success and adversity Adam remains the same daily," said bench coach John Russell. "He plays with tremendous heart and pride not only for the game but the city and fans of Baltimore."

The MLBPAA formed 30 committees, comprised of Alumni players with established relationships to each team. One player from each team is chosen by the committees based on their passion, desire and work ethic demonstrated both on and off the field. These players will be recognized prior to an upcoming home game.

Later in the season, fans, all Alumni and active players will vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners. The previous overall winners are David Eckstein (2005), Craig Biggio (2006, 2007), Grady Sizemore (2008), Albert Pujols (2009), Roy Halladay (2010), Torii Hunter (2011), Mike Trout (2012), Dustin Pedroia (2013), Josh Harrison (2014) and Anthony Rizzo (2015).

The final winner will be announced on Nov. 15 at the 17th annual Legends for Youth Dinner in New York.

Meanwhile, Vance Worley would settle tonight for winning a start, his first since April 15. He's 2-0 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.412 WHIP in 19 games over 45 1/3 innings.

Worley's highest pitch total was 87 in his final start in Texas, when he allowed five runs (four earned) and four hits in six innings. He's faced the Yankees once in his career, allowing one run and three hits in two-thirds of an inning on June 4 at Camden Yards.

Worley has posted a 5.06 ERA in two starts and a 2.34 ERA in 17 relief appearance, but there's an opening in the rotation and he's getting a second chance in it. The Vanimal is turned loose again.

Brian McCann is 3-for-10 against Worley, Carlos Beltran is 3-for-12 with two doubles and Starlin Castro is 2-for-15 with seven strikeouts.

Nathan Eovaldi is making his 17th start and 20th appearance this season. Tonight marks his first start since July 1 in San Diego, when he allowed six runs and seven hits and walked three batters in 4 1/3 innings.

In three ensuing relief appearances, Eovaldi allowed three hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings. And yes, scouts will be watching him closely as one of the Yankees starters available at the non-waiver trade deadline.

Eovaldi went 0-3 with an 8.65 ERA and 1.808 WHIP in five June starts spanning 26 innings. He faced the Orioles on June 3 and allowed five runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in the Yankees' 6-5 loss.

Eovaldi is 1-0 with a 4.98 ERA in four career starts against the Orioles and has registered a 1.662 WHIP in 21 2/3 innings. The current group is batting .313 (21-for-67) against him, though we're waiting to find out whether Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and Hyun Soo Kim are available tonight.

Davis is 2-for-11 with a home run and six strikeouts against Eovaldi, Wieters is 2-for-5 with three RBIs and Kim is 2-for-3.

Mark Trumbo is 5-for-6 with two doubles and Caleb Joseph, who may be needed behind the plate, is 4-for-5 with a double and home run.

Shameless plug alerts: I'm appearing on MLB Network's "The Rundown" that airs at 2 p.m. I'm also a call-in guest on 105.7 The Fan at 12:40 p.m., and I vaguely remember agreeing to do a Toronto radio show at 4:30 p.m.

Yes, it's confirmed. I'm also appearing on TSN 1050 in Toronto to talk Orioles as part of their tour around the American League East.