JUPITER, Fla. -- The Orioles received bad news on one of their premier sluggers after their 1-0 win against the Cardinals Thursday, when results of an MRI exam revealed that DH/outfielder Mark Trumbo will miss 3-4 weeks with a right quad strain.
Manager Buck Showalter made it known Trumbo will start the season on the 10-day disabled list.
"This guy was doing everything on the field, running, full speed," Showalter said. "That just tells you how different actual game speed is. He was fine during the game for the most part, and then he was driving home last night, stiff and sore."
Showalter wouldn't speculate on whether Trumbo's absence increases the chances that Pedro Alvarez or Danny Valencia, who were signed to Minor League contracts during Spring Training, can make the club.
"There's a lot of different variables," Showalter said.
With Trumbo -- who is hitting .130 with a home run and two RBIs this spring -- and Chris Davis -- who's been out since March 2 with a sore right elbow -- unavailable, the Orioles have been playing Trey Mancini at first.
Roster moves
The Orioles optioned outfielder Joey Rickard, who had played the last two seasons with them, to Triple-A Norfolk after Wednesday's game.
Rickard, who was batting .152 with an RBI in 15 games, faced stiff competition for a reserve outfield spot with last month's signings of Craig Gentry, Alex Presley and Colby Rasmus.
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"Joey needs at-bats. Obviously, he's not swinging the bat very well," Showalter said. "Joey just needs to get his head cleared, and get going again.
"The good news is if you just walked in -- and watched just spring -- you wouldn't think much of him, but because we have a history and knowledge of how good he is, I just want him to get some consistent at-bats every day and just relax."
Besides Rickard, the Orioles also reassigned veteran infielder Ruben Tejada to Minor League camp. Tejada was in a tough competition for the utility infielder's job with Luis Sardinas and Engelb Vielma.
Injury report
There was more bad news on the injury front Thursday. Infielder Ryan Mountcastle, the Orioles' No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, will be out four to six weeks with a fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand. Mountcastle, who was reassigned to Minor League camp Monday, was hit by a pitch in a Minor League game.
Up next
Andrew Cashner will make his second Grapefruit League start against the Mets at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Cashner pitched four shutout innings, allowing just one hit, in his first start, March 11. Watch live on MLB.TV.