BALTIMORE -- Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman played catch Monday for the first time since hitting the disabled list last week, and if he feels OK on Tuesday, the righty will repeat that Wednesday and inch closer to getting back on the mound.
Tillman, sidelined with right shoulder bursitis, was the O's Opening Day starter, and the club is hoping things progress quickly. Tillman said he didn't feel anything throwing on Monday, and that he won't need a rehab start.
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (left hamstring strain) told reporters he was feeling better and "could have played" on Monday if necessary. But Jones and the Orioles are trying to be cautious about the injury, which forced him out of the game on both Thursday and Friday.
"There's nobody tougher than Adam Jones, and sometimes you got to take that out of his hands. Because he's always firing," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Adam's never retreating, and to ask him to play the game a certain way and protect it, it's going to be tough for him because playing hard is such a habit with him. It really is.
"We have a lot of baseball ahead of us, so hopefully we can get this right shortly."
Jones, who hasn't played since he was removed on Friday, has been replaced in center field by Nolan Reimold the past couple of games. Though he hopes to be back as soon as possible, Jones is trying to be smart to not risk further issues.
"It's an important series. A game is a game. It's not like it's Sept. 30," Jones said. "It's Aug. 30. Be smart, and be honest with my body, which I don't like to do, but in this instance I have to."