Showalter on Hardy: "He'll play tomorrow and he can play today" (updated)

Ryan Flaherty is making his second start this month as the Orioles try to avoid being swept by the Twins in a four-game series.

They're also trying to keep J.J. Hardy healthy.

Hardy said he feels better today after experiencing discomfort in his groin during Friday night's game. He played nine innings yesterday and is resting and receiving treatment today.

Hardy expects to play Monday night in Kansas City.

"Just trying to see if we can get some help clearing it up and I think he could use it, and Ryan needs to play," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's about three-fold. A good time for it. He can play. He's available to play."

Hardy lined a sacrifice fly to right field last night - if he's possible to line a fly ball - that briefly gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. He's in a 4-for-48 slump in his last 14 games and hasn't homered since July 29.

It's only natural that everyone, including Hardy, is asked whether the struggles at the plate are tied to his health. He's also been hampered by back stiffness this season.

"I'm sure this is for everybody, and J.J. is the first one ... The reason we're talking about it is we have something to compare it with," Showalter said. "We've seen J.J. hit 30 home runs in a year, I think, and we've seen him do other things. He's spoiled us at a level that he's not at at the moment, but it's there. It's trying to get to it.

"I've been around some players that really don't tell you about a lot of things until after the season's over. When J does bring something out, you know it's something you should pay attention to.

"It seems like he's gotten one thing behind him and it's another challenge. He'll play tomorrow and he can play today."

Would the Orioles consider resting Hardy for three or four days if were earlier in the season?

"The answer probably would be, it's either a DL or not a DL. Would I consider DLing him? I don't think it's that type of injury," Showalter said.

"Probably not three or four. At least one and got day-to-day and see how he's feeling. He's not going to (say) after a day or so, 'I'm fine. I'm 100 percent, everything's hunky-dory.'

"A day would be fine, it would solve a lot of things. It's a good time for it, I think."

The Orioles aren't replacing Hardy's bat with one that's sizzling. Flaherty was 0-for-34 - the third-longest drought by a position player in team history - before he singled in the eighth inning in Thursday night's blowout loss to the Twins.

Flaherty walked in the ninth inning, so he's piecing together a different streak. He's now reached base in two straight plate appearances.

Flaherty doesn't have a hit in a game that he's started since July 24 against the Rays. It also represented his last hit until Thursday.

Update: The Orioles have fallen behind early again today.

Joe Mauer doubled off Kevin Gausman with two outs in the first inning and Miguel Sano homered to right field to give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Gausman threw 23 pitches in the inning. He struck out two.