Showalter: "This game can beat up on anybody" (O's win 5-3)

Tanner Scott is riding the Triple-A shuttle this season, making his third appearance with the Orioles following today's promotion as the corresponding roster move for Darren O'Day going on the disabled list.

Scott was recalled on April 8 while the Orioles recalled Jimmy Yacabonis, and he was sent down the next day while Hunter Harvey was recalled from Double-A Bowie. The Orioles recalled Scott again on April 20 while optioning infielder Engelb Vielma, and he returned to Norfolk eight days later to make room for outfielder Joey Rickard.

O'Day is on the DL for the fourth time since re-signing with the Orioles in December 2015. He had a strained hamstring and rotator cuff in 2016 and a strained right shoulder last season.

The veteran reliever went on the DL today with a hyperextended right elbow and is eligible to return on May 16. The Orioles seem confident that he'll make the date.

Dylan Bundy remains scheduled to pitch Sunday on regular rest, attempting to break a three-start slump. He didn't record an out last night and served up four home runs among his seven batters.

"I know he went out and ran two miles today. He said he feels great," said manager Buck Showalter.

"Sometimes, there's not a black and white answer. Anytime you have a guy who's as good a pitcher as Dylan have the outings he's had, it makes you look at it. It's not as simple as, 'Well, he's always struggled in May.' That's not what I or Dylan or anybody wants to hear. That's a little different proportion last night.

"We'll take a look at him as always during the work day. I know he's looking forward to getting back out there."

The Orioles are eager to start winning again, with losses in 13 of 15 games, 19 of 22 and 21 of 25. The effects are felt throughout the organization.

"Believe me, it's tough on everybody, whether it be the hitting coach, the pitching coach, the center fielder, general manager, the owner," Showalter said. "Most importantly, the fans, you know? That's what I'm concerned with.

"You try to walk that line between empathy and sympathy. I think we all know what reality is because it's right there every night, but there's an opportunity every night. You've got a lot of choices in life. How you're going to treat people and how you're going to try to be consistent and these are the times that I think really separate players, coaches, managers, everybody.

"This game can beat up on anybody. I didn't need to have the period we're in right now to remind me of that. I'm lucky to have a wife that waits up on me at night. She doesn't want to talk about baseball. She cut 10 acres yesterday on the tractor, planting collard greens and tomatoes. So at least we'll be able to eat. No meat, though."

Showalter keeps leaning on the track records of certain players, but what's on paper, as he noted, doesn't always show up.

"It's a reminder how much the human element plays into this game," he said. "It's like they say, I know the good Lord wouldn't give me more than I can handle. I wish he wouldn't have so much confidence in me. It's kind of that way with players, too.

"I'd really like to see some of these guys let up for air, because if you could see what I see behind public eyes, so to speak, it's tough on them. Especially when you've had the success they've had."

For the Royals
Jon Jay RF
Jorge Soler DH
Mike Moustakas 3B
Salvador Perez C
Lucas Duda 1B
Whit Merrifield 2B
Alex Gordon LF
Alcides Escobar SS
Abraham Almonte CF

Eric Skoglund LHP

Update: Andrew Cashner didn't allow a hit until Salvador Perez's two-out single in the fourth inning and Lucas Duda followed with a home run to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

Update II: Chris Davis hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead. He's homered in back-to-back games.

Update III: The Royals tied the game in the sixth on Duda's two-out RBI bloop single. Cashner allowed three runs and six hits in six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 111 pitches, 72 for strikes.