Orioles to Activate Jason Hammel for Thursday Start

The Baltimore Orioles will activate right-hander Jason Hammel from the disabled list in time for him to make tomorrow’s start against the New York Yankees, reports Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun:

Both Buck Showalter and Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette have said that Jason Hammel’s possible early-September return from knee surgery would make essentially the same impact of a late-season trade.

And after Hammel threw a late-afternoon bullpen session Tuesday, Showalter said the Orioles’ ace will be activated from the disabled list before Thursday’s game and start in that nightagainst the Yankees at Camden Yards.

After getting off to a great start to the season for the Orioles, Hammel has been sidelined by a knee injury since the middle of July. He made a rehab start with the club’s high-A affiliate Saturday, logging five scoreless innings of work while recording seven strikeouts.

On the year, Hammel has maintained an ERA of 3.54 over eighteen starts for the Orioles with 8.7 SO/9 and 3.2 BB/9.