Notes on lineup, catchers and a "semi-deadline" (O's down 8-2)

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy will accompany the team to Tampa and Arlington during the upcoming road trip. He'll be reexamined by a hand specialist upon the club's return home and most likely cleared for strengthening exercises.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty and Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander remain scheduled to start their injury rehab assignments in six days.

Seth Smith is 9-for-20 with three home runs in his last five games, but he's out of the lineup again tonight.

Smith sat the two previous nights because the Rangers were starting left-handers Martin Perez and Cole Hamels. The Astros are starting right-hander Mike Fiers tonight, but Joey Rickard gets the assignment in right field.

Fiers is showing reverse splits again this season. Left-handers are batting .229 against him and right-handers are hitting .249. Manager Buck Showalter said a team is doing Fiers a favor by stacking the lineup with lefties.

Showalter can choose between two hot-hitting catchers. He decided on Caleb Joseph tonight, but Welington Castillo is 8-for-18 with a double, home run and three runs scored in his last five games to raise his average to .274.

Castillo was hitting .317 until going on the disabled list for the second time retroactive to May 31.

"He came off the DL and really was challenged to get in a groove again," Showalter said. "This time of year you've got to be careful with just running the same catcher out there all the time. It's so hot. And Casi sweats. He's soaking wet by the second inning. One of the few catchers who changes jerseys. I think lately you can tell he's kind of gotten back to himself and you can tell he's feeling better."

The bottom third of the lineup made significant contributions to the four-game sweep against the Rangers. The group went 4-for-9 with two RBIs and two runs scored on Monday, 6-for-14 with an RBI and three runs scored on Tuesday and 8-for-11 with a walk, RBI and four runs scored last night.

"You've got to understand, those guys who are hitting six, seven, eight and nine in a major league order are hitting third and fourth their whole life," Showalter said. "They were the guys who were pitched around. I don't think they view it as something beneath them. The greatest accolade you can pay guys is to put their name in the lineup, period.

"Unlike some clubs, this isn't a club that pays much attention to batting orders and stuff. It really doesn't. There's one way to move up higher if you don't like it and that's keep doing it. But the eight and nine hole is a big spot in an American League lineup."

Following a sweep of the Rangers that's got the Orioles within 3 1/2 games of the second wild card, does the weekend series against the Astros - with the best record in the American League - serve as a litmus test while determining their course of action at the non-waiver trade deadline?

"I like that people are talking about that," Showalter said. "Are they? They're the best team in the American League right now. Were the Cubs a litmus test? Very similar to the Cubs. Very athletic, a lot of high draft picks from years of having some challenges. It's a good club."

Showalter knows that every series may be viewed as defining the Orioles moving toward the "semi-deadline."

"I try not to dwell on it and keep in mind what my job is," he said. "Dan (Duquette) has been kind of holed up working. I haven't seen Dan for three or four days, but he's there and he's working and I have a lot of respect for what's going on this time of year. It's kind of like being locked up in a cave. You kind of shut out the outside world for a couple weeks, trying to keep your thoughts on everything.

"I trust him and I'd like to think he trusts me. This is hard, so we keep pushing."

Showalter is protective of his players and careful not to give the impression that he's hoping for a trade. He'll talk again about the importance of working with his starters and finding in-house improvements rather than coveting other pitchers.

"I try not to get involved in that," he said. "Eleventh hour, if we have something, I know Dan will kick it around with me and we'll see. But I appreciate that he's not coming to me with every little thing out there. That's not where my mind needs to be."

For the Astros
George Springer CF
Jose Altuve 2B
Josh Reddick RF
Carlos Beltrán DH
Yuli Gurriel 1B
Marwin Gonzalez LF
Brian McCann C
Alex Bregman SS
Colin Moran 3B

Mike Fiers RHP

Update: Ubaldo Jiménez struck out the side in the first inning, but he also surrendered an RBI single to Carlos Beltrán and a two-run homer to Yuli Gurriel to give the Astros a 3-0 lead. Jiménez threw 29 pitches.

Update II: The Astros took a 5-0 lead in the second inning on Colin Moran's run-scoring triple and Jose Altuve's grounder. Jiménez is up to 46 pitches.

Update III: Jonathan Schoop's two-out bloop single into right field in the third inning scored Rubén Tejada and reduced the lead to 5-1.

Update IV: Brian McCann led off the sixth inning with a home run and Josh Reddick had an RBI single off reliever Richard Bleier to give the Astros a 7-1 lead.

Update V: Colin Moran hit his first career home run leading off the eighth to increase the lead to 8-1.

Update VI: Mark Trumbo singled to score Manny Machado in the eighth and reduce the lead to 8-2.