Orioles activate Pérez, option Tate

BALTIMORE—The Orioles activated left-handed reliever Cionel Pérez from the 15-day disabled list on Monday and optioned right-hander Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk.

Pérez had been on the 15-day injured list with a strained right oblique. He left the Orioles’ game against the Angels on March 30^th after facing two batters and was placed on the injured list the next day.

“We had to make a move for Cionel,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I feel like Dillon’s pitching better. Yesterday was some of his better stuff.”

In two rehab games with Norfolk, Pérez allowed a run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings with a strikeout and a walk.

“I felt much better in the second one,” Pérez said through an interpreter. “In my first outing, I was still trying to test my body’s limit and see how far it can go, but in that second one, I felt a lot more confident. I felt a lot better.”

Tate came into Sunday’s game after closer Craig Kimbrel left with back soreness and retired the three batters he faced.

In 11 appearances, Tate, who missed last season with forearm and elbow injuries, is 1-0 with a 2.84 earned-run average with six strikeouts and six walks in 12 2/3 innings.

“It’s kind of where we are,” Hyde said. “I would expect to see him back up here real soon. It’s nothing that he did or didn’t do to get optioned down. He’s throwing the ball well.”

Tate, Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano are the only relievers with options remaining.

Notes: Hyde said that starters Kyle Bradish and John Means are with the team, and both should be activated later this week. Neither has pitched for the Orioles this season because of injury. … Outfielder Austin Hays, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain, “is doing better. He’s progressing,” Hyde said. “He hasn’t done much physical activity, but he’s starting to. He’s feeling better.” … Infielder Jordan Westburg, who missed Sunday’s game because of illness, is back in the lineup at second base, batting seventh.