masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgReliever Pedro Strop, on the disabled list with a lower-back strain, did some early work at shortstop today as part of a throwing drill incorporated by pitching coach Rick Adair. He isn’t changing positions.

The drill is supposed to aid a pitcher in refining and repeating his throwing motion.

“We can’t sneak anything by you all,” said manager Buck Showalter.

Strop also threw off a mound today for the first time since going on the disabled list on Saturday.

Triple-A infielder Jonathan…Reliever Pedro Strop, on the disabled list with a lower-back strain, did some early work at shortstop today as part of a throwing drill incorporated by pitching coach Rick Adair. He isn’t changing positions.

The drill is supposed to aid a pitcher in refining and repeating his throwing motion.

“We can’t sneak anything by you all,” said manager Buck Showalter.

Strop also threw off a mound today for the first time since going on the disabled list on Saturday.

Triple-A infielder Jonathan Schoop received a second opinion on his lower back this morning in California, and while it basically matched the first one, the Orioles seem encouraged by the timetable for his possible return.

Schoop has a stress fracture in his lower back and was told to rest for four weeks. He could resume playing in five to six weeks.

Schoop, the organization’s top position prospect, was batting .268/.331/.386 with six doubles, three homers and 18 RBIs in 34 games with Norfolk.

Dylan Bundy has a follow-up appointment scheduled with Dr. James Andrews on June 3. Bundy has experienced full range of motion in his right arm and has been pain-free for the past week.

The Orioles still expect Bundy to start throwing on June 10. He hasn’t pitched since spring training.

Catcher Taylor Teagarden caught seven innings today at extended spring training. He will serve as the designated hitter on Thursday or be sent out on an injury-rehab assignment. Either way, he’s close to being activated from the disabled list.

Pitcher Wei-Yin Chen is still feeling some discomfort in his oblique, but the pain is diminishing.

Wilson Betemit and Brian Roberts are hitting off a tee and throwing down in Sarasota.

Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez and his wife, Lucia, will soon become parents for the first time. Gonzalez will go on paternity leave.

Showalter repeated today that Kevin Gausman will make his next start on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers at Camden Yards. Nothing changed overnight.

According to STATS, Adam Jones has the fifth-best average (.372) all-time against the Nationals/Expos franchise with 11 or more plate appearances, trailing Andrew McCutchen (.433), Sean Casey (.398), Todd Helton (.374) and Greg Colbrunn (.373).

Chris Davis is batting .400/.475/.871 with nine doubles, eight homers, 17 RBIs, 17 runs and nine walks in his last 18 games since May 9. He’s 14-for-26 (.538) in his last six games.

Davis has scored a run in seven straight games, four behind franchise leader Frank Robinson in April 1966. Nate McLouth was the last Oriole to score a run in eight straight games, on Aug. 19-28, 2012. According to STATS, Davis’ streak is the longest active one in the majors.

McLouth and Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury are tied for the American League lead with 16 stolen bases. San Diego’s Everth Cabrera leads the majors with 19.

Among players with 10 or more steals, McLouth’s 94.1 percent success rate is second in the majors to Kansas City’s Alcides Escobar, who’s 10-for-10.

Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland has worked two innings or more in nine of his 12 appearances. Only two relievers have more outings of two or more innings – Anthony Swarzak and Chad Gaudin with 10 each.

The Orioles have hit two or more homers in a game 20 times, the second-most in the majors behind Toronto (21).