SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Pearce was limited to pinch-hitting duties the past two games in San Francisco – his only action since leaving last Sunday's game with a flexor mass strain in his right arm – but Pearce should be in the starting lineup once the Orioles return home and get the designated hitter spot starting tomorrow.
Playing in a National League park this weekend, they didn't have the designated hitter spot, which was the most likely place Pearce would be able to contribute as his right elbow recovers.
An off day today will give Pearce more time to recover. With the Orioles facing left-handers in their first two games against Boston – Eduardo Rodriguez on Tuesday and David Price on Wednesday -- Pearce will likely start both days. He's hitting .339/.443/.661.
How much Pearce will be able to contribute beyond the DH role remains unclear. He said before Sunday's game that he's done some light throwing, but nothing of the intensity he would have to execute if he returned to the outfield.
"I still haven't thrown or anything," Pearce said Sunday. "I mean I've tossed, but I haven't aired it out or anything yet. I'm available to hit, available to play defense. It's progressed like night and day. I was fine throwing the ball before I came over here. It's just if I air it out, it hurts. I can play first. That hasn't bothered me at all."
Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't start Pearce on Saturday against Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner because he said playing Pearce – likely at first – would force him to move first baseman Chris Davis to the outfield, which he didn't want to do.
Even if Pearce is limited to DH duties for the forseeable future, a platoon with left-handed-hitting Pedro Alvarez would allow the Orioles to maintain their offensive production from that spot whether they're facing a lefty or righty.
Difficulty getting Alvarez in lineup
Speaking of Alvarez, he's been one of the hottest Orioles hitters, but Showalter is having a difficult time fitting him into the lineup. The Orioles didn't have a DH this past weekend in San Francisco and before that, the Orioles faced two lefty starters in their four-game series in Oakland.
Facing Rodriguez and Price means that Alvarez won't likely be in the starting lineup until Thursday at the earliest.
Alvarez has hit well since coming out of an early-season slump in June and over his last 13 games, he is batting .372/.413/.837 with six homers and 11 RBIs.
The tolls of a long road trip
Despite having an off day today, Showalter said it will likely take a couple of days to get players' bodies back in rhythm after spending a week on the West Coast.
"It'll take two or three days for guys to get back acclimated to the time zone, but Boston's not going to feel sorry for us," Showalter said. "They're trying to accomplish the same thing we are. But we knew it was going to be a challenging road trip and guys competed all the way through it and we're still engaged in the competition. Go home and we haven't heard friendly voices in quite a while."
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