masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter is optimistic that shortstop J.J. Hardy will return to the lineup Tuesday night.

X-rays on Hardy’s sprained left thumb yesterday came back negative. No further tests are scheduled, though an MRI is next if the thumb doesn’t improve.

“J.J. wasn’t real happy with me yesterday when we scratched him late,” Showalter said. “Didn’t like the cage work and what Jimmy (Presley) was saying and the potential of getting jammed off the end of the bat and have that…Orioles manager Buck Showalter is optimistic that shortstop J.J. Hardy will return to the lineup Tuesday night.

X-rays on Hardy’s sprained left thumb yesterday came back negative. No further tests are scheduled, though an MRI is next if the thumb doesn’t improve.

“J.J. wasn’t real happy with me yesterday when we scratched him late,” Showalter said. “Didn’t like the cage work and what Jimmy (Presley) was saying and the potential of getting jammed off the end of the bat and have that thing blow up. He had the splint on all night, and sometimes the stiffness and soreness is from being immobile for a while.

“I hope it’s tomorrow. I hope he plays today. He was going in that game yesterday defensively if we had gone ahead. I can’t tell you where we are with that now because I’m not going to broadcast it, but I’m hoping it’s short. Something like this is day-to-day.”

First baseman Chris Davis will return to the lineup on Tuesday. Steve Pearce is starting tonight against Yankees left-hander Chris Capuano.

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“I want to get Stevie some at-bats,” Showalter said. “He’s been a little inactive here lately.”

The Yankees announced that Michael Pineda will start Wednesday night’s series finale. Pineda hasn’t started since April 23.

The Orioles’ rotation for the weekend series in Cleveland lines up as Ubaldo Jimenez, Kevin Gausman and Bud Norris.

Showalter accepted Adam Jones’ ice bucket challenge for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Later today, Showalter will have ice water dumped over his head.

Showalter wondered whether he should wear his cap. Sounds like a good idea.

Showalter must issue the same challenge to three individuals. Any chance he picks executive vice president Dan Duquette?

During his pregame media session, Showalter was asked whether this is his best Orioles team.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “We’ll see how it ends up. Potentially, yes.”

Like every other team, the Orioles will give shortstop Derek Jeter a retirement gift during the Yankees’ final trip here in September. Showalter suggested an enlarged photo of Jeffrey Maier from the 1996 American League Championship Series.

“I would give him a big picture of the home run,” Showalter said. “Well, it wasn’t a home run. We know that. That’s what I’d give him. A big picture and have the whole Baltimore Orioles team sign it.

“That’s a good idea. That’s cheap, too, right? Make it in bronze or something. Not that we remember that at all.”