BALTIMORE -- Seeking to bolster a short bench, the Orioles selected the contract of Paul Janish from Triple-A Norfolk prior to Saturday's first game of a doubleheader again Oakland.
Janish started Game 1 at shortstop and gives manager Buck Showalter a little more flexibility while shortstop J.J. Hardy is on the disabled list.
"I want to leave [Manny Machado] alone there, but the wear and tear of 18 innings at shortstop," Showalter said of the decison. "A lot more physical and mental challenges at shortstop for 18 innings. … I didn't want to do that two games."
To make room for Janish on the active roster, the Orioles optioned lefty T.J. McFarland to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Scott McGough has been designated for assignment.
McFarland is an option to return to the 'pen in Game 2 as the 26th man afforded to a team during a split doubleheader. In that event, he would have to be sent out immediately after the game.
The 33-year-old Janish had been in Houston, where he and his wife welcomed their third child, a daughter, on Friday. He batted .329/.364/.356 with two doubles, two RBIs, and eight runs scored in 21 games with Norfolk this season.
"My wife's doing really well. It's a little weird, had to leave the hospital about four this morning and my wife's holding the baby. I'm doing good. My wife's doing good. It was a little bit of an emotional situation, saying, 'All right, see you later.'" Janish said. "They're doing good, relatively speaking. It's a weird situation, but, all good things."
Janish ranks seventh in the International League in batting average, posting eight multi-hit games and reaching base safely in 16 of his last 20 games. In 445 career Major League games, Janish has hit .216/.284/.291 with 58 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and 84 RBIs, including a .286/.278/.371 slash line over 14 games with the Orioles last season.