masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFORT MYERS, Fla. – The Orioles have optioned right-hander Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk, reducing their spring training roster to 44 players. In four spring training games, Wright allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
More cuts could be coming after today’s game.
Manager Buck Showalter also said that Matt Wieters will not serve as the Orioles designated hitter on Sunday, as was originally planned. Wieters won’t play before Wednesday at the…

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Orioles have optioned right-hander Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk, reducing their spring training roster to 44 players. In four spring training games, Wright allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

More cuts could be coming after today’s game.

wright-mike-tides-sidebar.jpgManager Buck Showalter also said that Matt Wieters will not serve as the Orioles designated hitter on Sunday, as was originally planned. Wieters won’t play before Wednesday at the earliest.

“We just want to let everything quiet down,” Showalter said. “Dr. (Michael) Jacobs is coming in and will sit down with Matt. He has to come down for some other things anyway.

“They say it doesn’t bother him, but I’d just rather it all quiet. We are going to start looking at this thing week-to-week, rather than day-to-day. I know the way you have to term it is setback, but we don’t. It was expected.”

Showalter confirmed that Ubaldo Jimenez will make his next start on Tuesday in Bradenton against the Pirates after Monday’s off-day. He also said Chris Tillman’s next start will likely come at minor league camp.

Showalter said outfielder Alejandro De Aza should return to the team tonight after flying to the Dominican Republic to attend his grandfather’s 99th birthday party.

O’s pitching coach Dave Wallace stayed back in Sarasota today to watch Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman pitch at minor league camp.

The Orioles’ travel squad here today includes these players from minor league camp: Pitchers Kenn Kasparek, Donnie Hart and Pat McCoy, catcher Chance Sisco, infielders Sean Halton, Garabez Rosa and Ozzie Martinez, and outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Julio Borbon.

After hitting three homers yesterday, the Orioles are now tied for the American League spring training lead with 19. Chris Davis and Steve Pearce are tied for first among AL players with three each. Davis is tied for second with 10 RBIs.

The Orioles are 6-12 and have won three of their last four games. They’ve scored 34 runs the past four games.

Happy 50th birthday today to former Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles.