O's activate All-Star Jordan Westburg, Ramon Urias
Heading into the final week of the season as they chase a playoff spot, the Baltimore Orioles activated All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg and infielder Ramon Urias before Sunday's series finale against the Detroit Tigers.
A win over the Tigers and a loss by the Seattle Mariners against the Texas Rangers would send the O's back to the postseason for the second straight year. Baltimore (86-69) entered play Sunday with a 4 1/2-game lead in the American League wild-card race.
In corresponding roster moves, the O's optioned outfielder Daniel Johnson and infielder Livan Soto to Triple-A Norfolk. Both have seen limited action this season.
Westburg, 25, had been on the shelf since fracturing his right hand on July 31 after making his first All-Star team in his second major league season. He started at second base and hit second on Sunday.
Urias, 30, missed three weeks after spraining his right ankle on Aug. 31. Coming off the 10-day IL, he got the start at third base and hit eighth in the order in the series finale against the Tigers.
A stellar defensive player in the infield, Westburg hit .269 with 25 doubles, 18 home runs and 58 RBIs in 101 games before the injury. He went 4-for-10 with a home run during a three-game rehab stint at Norfolk.
Urias filled in for Westburg and enjoyed a productive August, hitting .260 with two doubles, five home runs and 17 RBIs in 27 games. For the season, the five-year veteran is hitting .252 with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 93 games.
