Pregame notes on Gentry, Gausman, Davis and more (O's lose 3-2)

CLEVELAND - Outfielder Craig Gentry will visit a hand specialist on Monday and could come off the disabled list the following day while the Orioles are in Toronto.

Manager Buck Showalter wants to use Gentry as a pinch-runner and the specialist will determine whether the fractured right middle finger has healed properly and there's no risk of tearing the ligament.

Gentry will wear a protective mitt on the hand while on the basepaths.

"If that ligament's reattached the risk factor goes away, so they're waiting," Showalter said. "They have an X-ray machine that they can have the X-ray as you're moving it and they'll be able to tell if he's going to be in harm's way or not. So, I'm hoping we get good news on Monday. We've missed him."

I wrote earlier that Kevin Gausman's next start was pushed back to Wednesday, with Dylan Bundy moving up to Tuesday. Showalter explained that Gausman has a blister on his pitching hand and could use the extra day.

"It would be fine, but we had the luxury of giving him the extra day and Dylan's got plenty of rest, so we thought we'd give him one more day," Showalter said. "And I like to give Kevin an extra day when I can. We don't have that luxury very often, but we can this time because of the off-day we had with the rainout."

First baseman Chris Davis was on the field early for batting practice while fighting a slump that's dropped his average to .219. He's collected only three hits in 29 at-bats this month and has struck out 12 times.

"Chris has never given in to it," Showalter said. "People think he just goes up there ... He's worked hard behind the scenes."

Davis was 17-for-50 over a 13-game stretch last month after sitting out a game in Oakland and hit four home runs in 11 games to close out August.

"We thought, and Chris did, too, that he was getting ready to have one of those Chris months and the last few games haven't been as good as hoped," Showalter said, "but there's always that chance that he could really get going and get hot."

The clubhouse televisions at Progressive Field were tuned to the 4 p.m. NFL game between the Packers and Seahawks, but a few players spent their idle time tracking Hurricane Irma as he swept through Florida. Zach Britton could call up video images on his phone.

Britton, Chris Tillman and Mike Wright have homes in Sarasota. Ryan Flaherty has an apartment in Fort Lauderdale. And there are other players, including Manny Machado, Trey Mancini and Mychal Givens, with families in the state.

Single-A Delmarva coach Buck Britton, Zach's older brother, flew down to Sarasota for a minicamp that was supposed to start over the weekend.

Head athletic trainer Richie Bancells grew up in Key West.

"One of his best friends is a city supervisor or something that had to stay and he was talking to him most of the night," Showalter said. "There were some sleepless nights for some people."

The Orioles took the necessary precautions at their major league and minor league complexes in Sarasota, but there's only so much that can be done.

"We've got eight or 10 guys who are directly involved in it and I've been in contact with them," Showalter said. "There's a lot of people who seem to have a connection. Any time you have spring training down in Florida, you have a lot of relationships down there.

"We had a minicamp that was supposed to start on the 8th and its obviously not going to. Instructional league is supposed to start on the 15th and I doubt it will. But there's a lot more important things than how the structure holds up.

"I've been through those things and they're scary. Just the sound alone. It makes you realize how you think you're prepared for something like that, but you're not. Mother Nature, there's no defense."

For the Indians
Francisco Lindor SS
Lonnie Chisenhall LF
Jose Ramirez 2B
Edwin Encarnacion DH
Jay Bruce RF
Carlos Santana 1B
Yandy Diaz 3B
Bradley Zimmer CF
Roberto Pérez C

Trevor Bauer RHP

Update: Jeremy Hellickson fell behind 1-0 just three batters into the game on Francisco Lindor's leadoff double, Lonnie Chisenhall's bloop single and Jose Ramirez's grounder to second.

Update II: The Orioles tied the game 1-1 in the sixth on Jonathan Schoop's single that scored Machado, who doubled and moved to third base on a wild pitch. Schoop is 3-for-3.

Update III: Roberto Perez and Lindor hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the sixth to give the Indians a 3-1 lead. Hellickson threw 33 pitches in the inning.

Update IV: Chris Davis homered with one out in the seventh to cut the lead to 3-2. He's tied with Rafael Palmeiro for sixth on the club's home run list with 223.