masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Shortstop J.J. Hardy (shoulder) and outfielder Endy Chavez (groin) won’t make the trip to Tampa for tonight’s game against the New York Yankees.

Hardy could return on Friday. Chavez has been day-to-day for more than a week.

Hardy, who received a cortisone injection on Tuesday, will take off again today and attempt to throw Friday morning. If the shoulder feels good, he’ll be in the lineup against the Tigers.

“I’m kind of hoping I’ll get over the hump tomorrow,” he…SARASOTA, Fla. – Shortstop J.J. Hardy (shoulder) and outfielder Endy Chavez (groin) won’t make the trip to Tampa for tonight’s game against the New York Yankees.

Hardy could return on Friday. Chavez has been day-to-day for more than a week.

Hardy, who received a cortisone injection on Tuesday, will take off again today and attempt to throw Friday morning. If the shoulder feels good, he’ll be in the lineup against the Tigers.

“I’m kind of hoping I’ll get over the hump tomorrow,” he said.

“There’s nothing like structurally wrong with it. It’s just taking a while to get over the hump. Every year I’ve had it and it goes away the first couple weeks of spring. This year it’s just taking a while. We’re just basically taking it easy and hopefully a couple days off will get over the hump and I’ll be fine. I’m hoping when I throw tomorrow it’ll feel like nothing’s wrong and I’ll be ready to go.”

Hardy has never received a cortisone shot in that area, but he said the discomfort isn’t worse than usual. It’s just lingering.

“It just wasn’t going away, so it was like, ‘OK, we’ve got a week left until the season. I don’t want to be dealing with this once the season starts.’ If that’s a good thing to do, then I’ll do it,” he said.

Hardy said he’s confident that he’ll be ready by opening day. That’s not even a concern.

“Even the way it was this spring, I was playing through it. I can play through that,” he said.

“Even if it didn’t get better, I’d be able to play. It’s just one of those nagging things.”

For the Orioles:
Nolan Reimold LF
Nick Johnson DH
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Mark Reynolds 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Robert Andino SS
Ryan Flaherty 2B

Jason Hammel RHP