Notes on Tillman, Aquino, Britton, Davis, Yacabonis and more

MILWAUKEE - The Orioles will place Chris Tillman on paternity leave before Wednesday's series finale against the Brewers and recall left-hander Jayson Aquino, who's on the taxi squad after arriving today from Triple-A Norfolk.

Paternity leave lasts a maximum of three days.

Aquino was chosen to replace Tillman in the rotation. He's 2-7 with a 4.46 ERA in 12 starts with Norfolk.

"We looked at some of the options and felt from talking to everybody that he was pitching the best of their starters," said manager Buck Showalter. "His body of work was a little better and he deserved an opportunity. That's what it came down to."

Closer Zach Britton will come off the disabled list on Wednesday. The Orioles will need to create a spot for him on the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

Tyler Wilson, recalled today from Norfolk, could be here for only one day. And the Orioles probably will transfer infielder Ryan Flaherty to the 60-day disabled list to open a 40-man spot.

Showalter won't reveal whether Britton automatically returns to the closer role.

"Yeah, we know how we're going to deal with it," he said, smiling. "What would you do? We have a pretty good idea how we're going to do it. We'll move toward returning to that role. See what the game allows us to do.

"It will be nice to get him back. I don't want to jinx it, because what usually happens is you get one guy back and another one goes away."

Jimmy Yacabonis was optioned to Norfolk after working 3 1/3 innings yesterday and allowing only one run on botched rundown play.

"We usually don't like to send out a guy who pitched pretty well like Yac did yesterday, but necessity," Showalter said. "He presented himself well. I'm pleased with him. That would have been a tough one that early if he hadn't done a pretty good job for us.

"This is Tyler's day to pitch. I'd like to think you don't need it, but you better be prepared."

First baseman Chris Davis said he feels good after hitting and throwing yesterday and he still intends to come off the disabled list immediately after the break.

"He's pushing for me to activate him tomorrow," Showalter said. "That's going well."

Davis might have returned sooner if not for the break, which the Orioles will use to send him on a rehab assignment and ease him back to the active roster.

"It would have been close," Showalter said. "I think the first day after the break is about as fast as we want to go. We talked to a lot of people about the prospect of speeding it up after two days and got a lot of negative on that.

"There's always another level once you actually play in a game. I don't care what you do in Delmarva or Frederick or BP or soft toss. It's just a different level of torque when you get on the field in a major league game."

Mike Wright begins a throwing program Wednesday in Sarasota.

Stefan Crichton will start throwing on Wednesday. He's on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder.

Hunter Harvey pitched a two-inning simulated game today as he recovers from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. He's nearing an assignment with one of the minor league affiliates.

"No problems," Showalter said.

Shameless plug alert: I'm appearing on "O's Xtra" at 3:30 p.m. on MASN2.