Orioles outright Chris Lee, latest on Brad Brach (O's up 9-3)

The Orioles reduced their 40-man roster to 38 players today by outrighting left-hander Chris Lee to Double-A Bowie after he cleared waivers.

Lee returned to Triple-A Norfolk's roster a few days ago after being on the disabled list with an injury to his left shoulder. He began the season on the DL with a right oblique injury suffered while facing one batter in an exhibition game against the Rays in Port Charlotte.

Two pitches ended Lee's day and forced him to stay at extended spring training.

Today's move comes after Lee made three appearances on an injury rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and allowed four earned runs (five total) and seven hits in three innings with two walks and five strikeouts.

Lee made five appearances, including three starts, with Triple-A Norfolk this year and surrendered 13 earned runs (16 total) and 23 hits with 10 walks over 11 innings for a 10.64 ERA and 3.00 WHIP. Opponents in the International League are batting .426 against him.

The Orioles acquired Lee, 25, from the Astros in May 2015 for the 46th and 76th international signing bonus slots. He's 32-34 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 128 career games in the minors.

Lee competed for the last spot in the Orioles rotation in spring training 2017, was optioned to Norfolk and posted a 5.11 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 27 games (20 starts). He's never regained the form that he carried before a lat injury ruined his 2016 season after eight games at Bowie.

Pitcher Eddie Gamboa has been transferred to Norfolk's roster as Lee's replacement.

Meanwhile, reliever Brad Brach figures to be the next player traded by the Orioles with center fielder Adam Jones likely to invoke his 10-5 rights and refuse any deals.

I'm hearing that the Braves and Cubs are "pushing" for Brach, who hasn't pitched in five days. The Pirates also have been linked to him recently and I reported last week that the Rockies and Indians were involved in discussions with the Orioles.

The Orioles lead the Rays 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning following Austin Wynns' leadoff home run off reliever Hunter Wood, who threw one pitch after replacing starter Yonny Chirinos. Wynns has two major league home runs.

The only hits off Dylan Bundy are solo home runs by C.J. Cron in the second and fourth. Cron has 10 career multi-homer games, including two this season.

Update: Jonathan Schoop's three-run homer in the seventh gave the Orioles a 9-3 lead. He's homered in six of the last seven games.

Jace Peterson had an RBI single in the fifth.

Bundy allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts. Jake Bauers had a solo home run in the sixth.