Updates on O'Day, Sunday starter, Tillman and more (O's down 4-1)

Darren O'Day threw another bullpen session this morning and could come off the disable list as early as Friday afternoon in Boston.

The Orioles passed along that the session "went well" and it will check how he responds on Thursday.

O'Day is recovering from a hyperextended right elbow. He was eligible to return today.

Miguel Castro and David Hess are candidates to start Sunday afternoon in Boston. Hess currently is scheduled to start Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk, so he'd be staying on turn.

"I think because of the three days (rest) pitching last night, I know John Wasdin and Brian Graham and Roger (McDowell) talked about giving him some extra time and having a workday or two in between," Showalter said. "I think that's why they pushed it back to Sunday. That was done a day or two ago. It had nothing to do with the rainout last night."

Castro was supposed to pitch today, but last night's postponement moved him back to the bullpen, where he's available this afternoon if the weather allows the teams to play.

Chris Tillman was in the clubhouse this morning and is expected to fly down to Sarasota later today or Thursday. The Orioles haven't mapped out his schedule and can't provide any sort of timeline.

"Not yet," Showalter said. "As soon as we get all the soreness and physical stuff behind him, then we'll start, so we haven't really set up that schedule yet until we know that he's pain-free. After that it will move pretty quickly."

Tillman might have to go back to square one, with flat-ground throwing and half-mound sessions to build toward a rehab assignment. It depends how long he's shut down.

"Potentially," Showalter said. "I'm hoping that the physical problem he has resolves itself quickly enough that there's not that need and he can get back on a rehab assignment to Norfolk or wherever quickly without having to go through a lot of that. But we'll see."

Anthony Santander's removal from the 25-man roster leaves the Orioles without an outfielder who bats from the left side, though Jace Peterson is capable of playing the corners. Is it important to have one?

"It depends on who it is," Showalter replied. "Not necessarily."

Showalter noted the increasing number of "reverse-pitchers," with more lineups stacked with right-handed hitters versus right-handed hurlers.

"That's why I say it depends who it is and whose place he would take and what it does to you defensively and all that," Showalter said.

Alex Presley's opt-out date at Triple-A Norfolk has arrived and a decision must be made on him within the next 48 hours. He could choose to stay. Michael Saunders departed yesterday.

Presley is batting .275/.347/.367 in 26 games.

Left-hander Josh Edgin also must decide whether to exercise his opt-out clause. He's 3-0 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 12 appearances over 18 2/3 innings. He's walked five batters and struck out 25.

"I know that Brian and Dan (Duquette) are making some moves to cover all that stuff," Showalter said.

The Orioles could make a roster move following today's game or on Thursday.

The tarp just came off the field and the Orioles and Phillies will try to start on time. Last night's delay lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes before the game was postponed until June 12.

"That was a tough one last night," Showalter said. "We tried and tried. We kept getting those windows and they kept closing up. Predicting the weather, I don't know if it's where we are, but it changes so much."

Update: Adam Jones extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a home run in the first inning that gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

Update II: Cesar Hernandez led off the sixth inning with a home run to tie the game 1-1.

Update III: Maikel Franco singled off Andrew Cashner with two outs in the sixth to score Carlos Santana and give Philadelphia a 2-1 lead. Pedro Florimon followed with an RBI single off Richard Bleier for a 3-1 lead.

Update IV: Hernandez tripled off Bleier in the seventh and scored on Rhys Hoskins' single off Mychal Givens for a 4-1 lead.