Ramirez extends Majors stint with strong play
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MINNEAPOLIS -- Yefry Ramirez's second Major League start has earned him a longer stay in the Orioles rotation.
Manager Buck Showalter said he's been impressed with Ramirez and the 24-year-old right-hander will start one game of Monday's doubleheader at home against the New York Yankees.
Ramirez allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings on Wednesday in Philadelphia. He surrendered one hit and two walks with four strikeouts.
"I like his presentation," Showalter said before Baltimore's series opener in Minnesota on Thursday. "[Pitching coach Roger McDowell] changed some things on this trip, and his slider has really taken a little bit better depth. I like the fact that he didn't really have a feel for his changeup that well the other day, which has really been a solid pitch for him, and he pitched well. ... I like the way he presents himself on the mound. He's calm and seems to be aware of game situations."
Ramirez is 0-2 with a 2.51 ERA in his first three career games. He pitched five scoreless innings of relief on June 28.
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Showalter wasn't ready to announce his other starter for the doubleheader. He noted that Jimmy Yacabonis starts for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.
"There's a lot of options in play there depending on how we use the bullpen here the next four days," Showalter said.
The team has to make one roster move before Friday's game to make room for starter Dylan Bundy, who will be activated off the disabled list after recovering from a left ankle sprain.
O'Day set for surgery, Tillman makes another start
Reliever Darren O'Day, who is out for the rest of the season with a left hamstring strain, will undergo surgery on July 12 in Baltimore. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Leigh Ann Curl.
O'Day pitched in 20 games this season with a 3.60 ERA.
Starter Chris Tillman (10-day disabled list, lower back strain) makes another rehab start on Thursday for Norfolk. He's allowed 10 runs in nine innings in his first three rehab starts.
TRADE RUMORS
While the spotlight has been on a possible destination for Manny Machado before the trade deadline, there are other Orioles who could be of interest to contending teams and Showalter said they've handled the uncertainty well.
"Everybody seems to focus on Manny, and understandably so, but there's a lot of other guys in that," Showalter said. "Just because you're not crowded around their locker asking about it, it doesn't mean they don't have those same thoughts. I think they're all handling it well. Nobody's handling the team, where we are as a team right now, understandably. That's a whole different thing. There's two sides to that. I think if you've been in the big leagues as long as these guys you're talking about have been, they kind of understand it's part of it. In fact, some of them feed off it."
Britton almost there
Zach Britton has had two straight scoreless outings and hasn't allowed a hit as he makes his way back from right Achilles surgery. Showalter said Wednesday's appearance shows Britton getting closer to being the dominant reliever as a two-time All-Star.
"Zach's going to get right back into step here shortly," Showalter said. "I just would like to create more situations for him, but he's very close to being there."