News of the day and tonight's game

The Orioles are in Boston tonight for a series that could get them on firmer ground in the wild card race or knock them on their backs. So much also depends on the teams jockeying for position in front of them.

The roster could undergo a change with pitcher Mike Wright scratched from yesterday's start at Triple-A Norfolk and leaving the club. And we'll find out whether closer Zach Britton avoids the disabled list.

Will confirmation come today that Chris Tillman is starting Sunday's series finale? It's never wise to assume too much. And there's talk of the Red Sox anticipating left-hander Wade Miley.

Manager Buck Showalter may have an update on J.J. Hardy's rehab assignment after the shortstop played Game 1 of yesterday's doubleheader and went 1-for-2 with a double, walk and run scored. Hardy is 2-for-7 with three walks, two strikeouts, two runs scored and one error in three games against Charlotte.

The Tides are in Durham this weekend and Hardy could hit the road with them if it's decided that he needs more at-bats and throws. Three games doesn't seem like much when the guy hadn't played in two months, but the Orioles will heed his diagnosis.

Meanwhile, Tim Beckham will get another start at shortstop and see whether he can improve on that .421/.439/.716 slash line in 22 games with the Orioles. He has multiple hits in 13 of them, including three in Wednesday's 12-inning win over the Athletics.

Beckham has been OK in the field, making a couple of outstanding plays and falling short in other instances.

The mishaps aren't always accompanied by an error, but he was late making a throw to first base in the seventh inning Sunday after ranging up the middle to snatch Ryon Healy's ground ball, and he bounced a throw to Jonathan Schoop while attempting to start a double play. Schoop saved Beckham by playing the hop and almost turned two.

Never take Hardy for granted. But it's also hard to just hand him the starting job again while Beckham is keeping his average above .400. And it's not like Beckham is the defensive equivalent of Wilson Betemit and Mark Reynolds at third base. He's just not as smooth transferring the ball.

Beckham is hitting .296 against left-handers and right-handers this season. He's batting .319/.333/.505 in 20 games from the leadoff spot.

The Orioles are 7-6 against the Red Sox this season, splitting six games at Fenway Park.

Hey, remember when Rick Porcello won the American League's Cy Young Award? Kate Upton does. Or is it "Uproar?" Anyway, Porcello is 8-14 this season with a 4.48 ERA and 1.360 WHIP in 26 starts. Upton will portray herself in the upcoming "E! True Hollywood Story."

Going into last night's games, Porcello's 14 losses led the majors and his 189 hits led the American League and ranked second in the majors.

More like Sigh Young. Am I right?

Maybe it's turning around for him. He's won all four decisions this month with a 4.07 ERA and 1.274 WHIP. He lost all four decisions in July with a 3.06 ERA and 0.962 WHIP.

Again, a pitcher's won/loss record is largely meaningless.

Porcello has faced the Orioles twice this season, allowing two runs in six innings in a 5-2 loss on May 1 in Boston and three runs in six innings in a 3-2 loss on June 2 in Baltimore. He's 4-10 with a 4.75 ERA in 17 career starts against the Orioles.

Seth Smith is 10-for-25 (.400) with three doubles, one triple and one home run lifetime against Porcello. Manny Machado is 10-for-33 (.303) with a double and two home runs. Ryan Flaherty is 6-for-16 with a home run, and he's a career .308/.356/.440 hitter with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 11 RBIs in 30 games at Fenway Park. Can Showalter squeeze him into the lineup?

Jeremy Hellickson is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA and 1.235 WHIP in four starts with the Orioles over 22 2/3 innings. He's walked only four batters, but he's still trending in the wrong direction.

Hellickson tossed seven scoreless innings in his debut and has allowed three runs in six innings, six runs in five innings and seven runs - including five home runs - in 4 2/3 innings.

The last start came last Friday against the Angels, putting Hellickson on extended rest. He owns a career 2.94 ERA and 1.187 WHIP in 33 career starts while working on six-plus days.

Hellickson is 4-4 with a 4.78 ERA in 16 career games (15 starts) against the Red Sox and 3-1 with a 5.09 ERA in eight games (seven starts) at Fenway Park. He faced them on June 14 while pitching for the Phillies and allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings.

Mookie Betts is 5-for-5 with a double and home run lifetime against Hellickson. Mitch Moreland is 4-for-8 with a home run and Xander Bogaerts is 4-for-9 with a double.

Rajai Davis, acquired on Wednesday from the Athletics, is 2-for-10 with four strikeouts.