Notes on Severino, Alberto, Cashner's return, more (O's up 11-2)

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said catcher Pedro Severino has been ill for the last three or four days and might not be available for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox.

Catcher Austin Wynns has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and is on the bench tonight. Severino would have started against left-hander David Price.

Left-hander Tanner Scott is on the taxi squad and likely will be recalled before Saturday night's game. Wynns could be optioned if Severino is feeling better.

In the meantime, the bullpen is short one arm while the Orioles carry three catchers.

Severino has flu-like symptoms, including a sore throat.

"Severino's been pretty sick for the last few days and might be unable today," Hyde said. "We wanted to get Austin here just in case something happens to Chance (Sisco).

"It was a this morning decision with Sevie. He was going to play tonight against Price, obviously, but he just can't go. We wanted to make sure we had a catcher here."

Hanser Alberto is back in the lineup after spending Wednesday with his wife Olga for the birth of their second daughter.

"Sent him a text last night and going to go out there right now and see how everything's going," Hyde said.

"I was just joking with him a couple days ago when I knew she was scheduled to have (Hanna) around 1 o'clock. I said, 'OK, I'll be ready for you to come off the bench late in the game.' And he kind of gave me this look. I said, 'Bert, I'm not being serious.'

"He's obviously super excited and congratulations."

Alberto has become an everyday player with the Orioles and his .397 average against left-handers leads the majors.

"It's a great feeling. You feel so happy for him," Hyde said.

"You love the guy. He's just an incredible person and so fun to be around and so positive. He's just a great guy to have on the team, which is what we heard before the season. It's all true.

"He's having success and giving himself a chance when he hits. He's played multiple positions for us and will do anything you ask him to do. You automatically pull for the guy big-time, and to see him take advantage of this opportunity is really, really cool.

"He's been in the big leagues up and down for quite a few years now and never had that chance not get some every day at-bats, playing in Texas when they had (Elvis) Andrus and (Adrian) Beltre and (Jurickson) Profar and (Rougned) Odor. But now he's getting a chance to play and really playing well, so easy guy to pull for."

Hyde said he doesn't expect John Means to bring extra motivation to the mound tonight after Red Sox manager Alex Cora withheld the rookie from the All-Star Game.

Means already knew the arrangement and that he'd be the last pitcher used for the American League. Cora explained it to him.

"It was known beforehand that if the game was tied that Means was in the game for extra innings," Hyde said. "I don't think (Cora) looked past John Means. It was who can go an inning-plus for us because of the extra-inning situation in the All-Star Game

"I'm sure he would have loved to pitch and we were all hoping it was going to end after nine with a tie to see John, but just didin't work out that way. I don't think he's too bitter about it."

Infielder Jace Peterson signed a new minor league deal with the Orioles after opting out of his old one.

DJ Stewart returned to Norfolk's lineup tonight.

Andrew Cashner visited his old teammates on the field today during batting practice, holding the football that he kept in his locker at Camden Yards.

Cashner starts Sunday to close out the series. The trade finally sunk in after he tried to sort through his emotions on Saturday.

"It's exciting," he said. "It's a chance to win. It's a chance to play for the defending World Series champs. I put myself in a situation to get traded, but to get traded to this team I think would probably be the ideal situation for me. It's a lot of veterans, it's a really good-hitting team. You're never out of any game. The bullpen is really good."

Cashner made 45 starts with the Orioles in his 1 1/2 seasons. He's used to changing clubs, with the Red Sox his sixth team in 10 years.

"This is my third trade, so I think it's not so much that it feels weird as it is seeing familiar faces of people that you've been around, people that you've worked with, people that know what you're about, all that kind of stuff," he said.

"I think that's more of the special part than it does feel weird. I've been to San Diego before as a visitor, I've been to Chicago before as a visitor, so I think it's just seeing old faces and getting to say hi to people is the best part."

Cashner also gets to stay in the American League East and face the same teams, which can ease the transition.

"I think you have a good idea of your game plan and what you want to do," he said. "I think it's definitely an easier adjustment as far as knowing the hitters. I've made a ton of starts against the AL East this year and I think my next four starts are against the AL East, so that part is nice, not having to do the extra homework and that kind of stuff. It definitely makes the adjustment easier."

Cashner is seeking better results Sunday than he found in his Red Sox debut on Tuesday, when he allowed five earned runs (six total) and eight hits with two home runs over five innings in a 10-4 loss to the Blue Jays. He hadn't pitched since July 6.

"I just thought I was really rusty," he said. "I think I had an 11- or 12-day layoff. With the four days off for the All-Star break and not really doing anything and getting out of a routine, I think that's more the toughest part. And then the travel and getting into a new city, and it's all just so fast. Maybe you get a little quick in your mechanics.

"You're definitely amped up, making a start at Fenway as the home team. But looking forward to Sunday and pitching off a mound I've pitched off the last year and a half."

Update: Anthony Santander hit a three-run homer in the first inning for a 3-0 lead.

Update II: Sam Travis hit a two-run homer off John Means in the second.

Update III: Richie Martin tripled in the second and raced home as J.D. Martinez failed in his first attempt to pick up the ball, giving the Orioles a 4-2 lead.

Update IV: Keon Broxton's two-run homer in the fourth gave the Orioles a 6-2 lead.

Update V: Stevie Wilkerson's sacrifice fly and Martin's fielder's choice grounder expanded the lead to 8-2 in the fifth.

Update VI: Jonathan Villar had a two-run single in the seventh and Broxton scored on an error for an 11-2 lead.