Showalter on Tillman, plus injuries (Tillman on DL, O's up 8-4)

The Orioles are finished with batting practice and on the verge of announcing their corresponding roster move for pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis, who has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk as an extra reliever.

Showalter said earlier today that he could address Chris Tillman's situation "probably after the game," an indication that the right-hander might be involved in the transaction.

"We've got some things we're looking at," Showalter said. "I could sit here and nothing really new that wasn't there last night that we talked about. When you have the type of background that we all have with Chris, you pull for all your players, but at some point, whether it's a coach or a manager or a pitcher, a position player, we know what the job description is. Nobody knows that more than Chris. It's very frustrating to watch what he's going through on a lot of fronts."

Tillman lasted only 1 1/3 innings last night and was charged with six runs total (five earned) to leave his ERA at 10.46. He went one inning-plus in his previous start in Anaheim.

The bullpen isn't a potential landing spot for Tillman, according to Showalter.

"I could consider it and have," Showalter said. "It's one of the options we have, but I don't think where we are with some of uses of our bullpen, if I put somebody in the 'pen, I've got to feel confident that I'm going to get X out of them.

"Like Miguel (Castro). I knew Miguel, regardless of what happened was going to be able to pitch more than one inning. I'm not sure where Chris is right now that we could say that's a given. So that's a good way of saying 'no.'"

Asked whether he's witnessed another pitcher experience a similar drop-off in production, as Tillman has since 2016, Showalter replied, "I've spent time thinking about comparisons. I have."

"Most of it, it's not just one thing. A lot of it is more than physical. That's why you see guys leave a place and do real well and it doesn't mean they don't like that place or they weren't happy there or they didn't like their teammates or coach or manager or trainers. It's just the emotional and mental side of this is much as the physical part of it."

Pedro Âlvarez wasn't walking with a limp as he moved through the clubhouse today. He's out of the lineup after his right hamstring tightened last night and he came out for a pinch-hitter.

"We'd like to wait a day on it," Showalter said. "Most of the time those hamstring cramps, first humid day, usually are not just a cramp, but every once in a while they are, so we'll give him another day. I'm not going to expand on his availability tonight. Hopefully, that's something that ... He's going to get out and move around some a little bit and see about his availability tonight. But he's going to be active tonight."

Jace Peterson remains in the lineup after rolling his ankle at first base last night.

"He's fine today," Showalter said. "That was one of the reasons why I had to pinch-hit (Anthony) Santander instead of (Danny) Valencia last night, because I needed to save the infielder in case Pete's ankle got worse. One of those things he's kind of had through football."

Update: The Orioles have placed Tillman on the 10-day disabled list with a lower-back strain.

Tillman is 1-5 with a 10.46 ERA and 2.213 WHIP in seven starts over 26 2/3 innings. He began last season on the DL with right shoulder bursitis. He won his first start on May 7 and went 22 straight without a victory before holding the Tigers to one hit over seven scoreless innings on April 27.

In his last two starts, Tillman has surrendered 12 earned runs (13 total) and 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Today's move allows the Orioles to keep Tillman in the organization while replacing him in the rotation.

Tillman re-signed with the Orioles in February, agreeing to a one-year deal that guaranteed $3 million and included a possible $7 million in bonuses and incentives.

Update II: Manny Machado hit his second two-run homer in two nights to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Adam Jones singled to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

Update III: Two-out singles by Denard Span and C.J. Cron, sandwiched around a wild pitch, cut the lead to 2-1 in the third.

Update IV: Trey Mancini led off the sixth with a single and scored with two outs on Jonathan Schoop's double to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead.

Update V: Mark Trumbo hit a solo home run in the seventh, his first of the season, and Machado hit his eighth career grand slam with two outs to give the Orioles an 8-1 lead.

The Rays scored three runs in the top of the eighth, one charged to Gausman after Richard Bleier replaced him. Gausman scattered 11 hits. Bleier allowed his first runs since April 2.