Steve Pearce staying at Bowie today

The Orioles will keep Steve Pearce on his injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie today rather than activate him from the disabled list.

Pearce is batting third and playing left field today at Prince George's Stadium. He started at first base last night and went 0-for-2 with an RBI. He also was hit by a pitch.

Pearce was 2-for-7 with two games with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles.

Manager Buck Showalter said Pearce won't fly with the Orioles to Kansas City later today because he wants the outfielder to play nine innings at Bowie. He listed a few possibilities for Pearce on Monday, including a move to Single-A Frederick, which is playing in Potomac.

Showalter also noted that Triple-A Norfolk is home, but it's conceivable that Pearce simply takes a flight to Kansas City on Monday morning. Showalter will check on him again following the game and have another discussion with Baysox manager Gary Kendall.

The Orioles may have been more inclined to fly Pearce to Kansas City tonight if shortstop J.J. Hardy's groin discomfort worsened. There's no rush. But the decision to keep Pearce in Bowie today stems more from the club's desire to have him play a full game after coming out early the last three days.

"I spoke with him today and to Gary, and I spoke to him last night after our game," Showalter said. "We'll see where we are after that game. He's not traveling with us today. We'll see how Steve comes through today.

"I'd like to see him play nine innings. We play nine innings up here. Sometimes more than nine."

Point taken.

"Hopefully, he can get that under his belt today," Showalter said. "We send guys out and we play nine innings, whether it's a three-hour game of whether it's hold or cold or raining. Kind of what we do up here. We'd like to know if guys can stand up from their injury over that period."

Pearce was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 19 with a strained left oblique.

Hardy is available today and will get back in the lineup Monday night against the Royals.

Also, the Orioles expect to have a resolution on David Lough's situation later today. I'm told a team is interested in him. Otherwise, the Orioles will outright him to Norfolk.

If outrighted, Lough can't refuse the assignment.