Wright on return, Showalter on pitching and trade deadline (updated)

The Orioles were able to take batting practice today before the grounds crew put the tarp on the field. The Angels were denied.

The rain finally let up and the sky's clearing. The tarp has been removed while a video of the 1966 World Series plays on the big screen.

Mike Wright made it back to the majors today and was placed in the bullpen. He learned of his promotion on Wednesday.

"They said they didn't know if I was going to start today or relieve, so that's where I'm at," Wright said. "It's good to be back."

Wright is 3-4 with a 6.12 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) with the Orioles. However, he allowed just two runs in 20 2/3 innings in his three starts with Triple-A Norfolk.

"Just the fact that I started the year here and when I went down it was a little foreign and I knew I didn't like it. I wanted to come back here," Wright said.

"I was executing pitches way better. That was the main thing. Eventually, if you're trying and trying and trying, it's going to happen. It just clicked when I was down there for whatever reason."

The Orioles pretty much knew after Wednesday's 14-inning game in Los Angeles that Ubaldo Jimenez would start tonight.

"Obviously, the last day in Los Angeles had a lot to do with it," Showalter said. "We left the clubhouse like we do every day, that we'll do everything possible to win this game and when the smoke clears we'll see where we are.

"(Odrisamer) Despaigne and (Vance) Worley and (Dylan) Bundy all pitched that game. Mychal Givens' situation had something to do with the Wright move. In a perfect world, we would have left Mike alone to keep down the path he is down there pitching, but put our best foot forward.

"Very challenging road trip and one day isn't going to get you back on your feet. We had a lot of people pitch multiple innings that last day and a half, two days. Came after a short turnaround, too."

Showalter said Wright has been pitching "OK" in Norfolk.

"Maybe statistically," he added.

"Looking at the construction of Anaheim's roster, they only have one left-handed hitter. That had something to do with it. Of the options we had, he was the best. It was better than not doing anybody. We knew we were going to need somebody. They're swinging the bat real well right now."

Tyler Wilson wasn't an option after being sent down to Norfolk. He hadn't reached the minimum 10 days and the Orioles didn't want to pitch him again anyway.

"I think he starts throwing the day after the break," Showalter said. "We're trying to freshen or crisp up his arm, whatever. A lot of innings. He's been going at it.

"Talking to him, in his situation he felt like every outing he was trying to make the club, stay on the club. You think about the stress since the first day of spring training. I think that's where some of his maybe overdoing it sometimes might have gotten in his way a little bit, but that's Tyler. That's why he's here.

"Inexperienced pitchers, the length of the season is what gets them here. You're trying to get through the next month and the season's over. There's another one (in the majors) and hopefully another one. That's why we're so cautious about the timing of when to turn guys loose a little bit."

I wrote in the last entry that Dr. James Andrews will examine T.J. McFarland's left knee on Monday.

"I think that was expected," Showalter said. "I see the reports every day and he's just doing his treatment. I knew it was going to be three or four weeks before and I think while he's got this downtime where he's not throwing and doing things ... Just about all the guys get a second opinion.

"Maybe there's something else there and I'm just not aware of it. Maybe he's not seeing the advancement of feeling better. I don't know. Usually, a lot of guys like to get a second opinion."

Executive vice president Dan Duquette sat in Showalter's office before batting practice and figures to stay close as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches. Showalter, as usual, won't become consumed by it.

"They've got it covered," he said. "I think he appreciates where my focus is. You haven't heard me say, 'We need this and we've got to have that.' I think all the things are right here. When Dan thinks something is pertinent or he needs my thought, usually when it gets down to where we have a chance to acquire somebody, about how it would fit, how I'd use them, we talk about it. I don't want every single phone call, every single opinion, every little rumor. I don't need that. He knows that.

"We're focused on what's going on in Bowie and Norfolk. If there's a need there we've got to be on top of that. As you all know, we're a starter short going into the second half. Fourth and fifth day potentially out of the break, we have to decide which way we're going. I want them all to know before they leave here what we're doing."

Update: Ubaldo Jimenez gave up two runs and threw 22 pitches in the top of the first inning, with Albert Pujols producing an RBI single and C.J. Cron driving in a run with a ground ball, but Adam Jones homered on Matt Shoemaker's first pitch to reduce the Angels' lead to 2-1.

Jones has two of the Orioles' three leadoff home runs this season.

Left fielder Daniel Nava robbed Manny Machado of a home run with a leaping catch at the fence.