Hays (ribs) had X-rays come back negative but is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sunreports.

EDGE Analysis

Hays was hit by a pitch in the ribs Thursday against the Blue Jays and will be out of the lineup for at least one game as he deals with some bruising. It's possible he's available off the bench Friday. Colton Cowser will move to left field while Cedric Mullins starts in center and bats eighth.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Hays is being examined after being hit in the ribs by a pitch in Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hays was drilled in the left ribcage by a Yimi Garcia pitch in the top of the ninth inning. He remained in the game to run the bases but was clearly in a lot of pain, so the Orioles wanted to get him checked out to make sure he didn't suffer any fractures. Aside from the hit by pitch, Hays struck out in his other three plate appearances Thursday.

Hays is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

Hays went 3-for-7 with two home runs and a double in the first two games of the series, but he'll be given a breather for Wednesday's contest. Kyle Stowers will take over as the Orioles' starting left fielder.

Hays went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three total RBI in Monday's win over Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

After coming into the night without a home run over his first 86 plate appearances of the season, Hays left the yard twice for the sixth multi-homer game of his career. The 28-year-old slugged both blasts off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, launching a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a solo home run in the seventh. Hays has seen inconsistent playing time over the past two weeks but is starting to heat up, batting 5-for-9 with three extra-base hits over his past three games.

Hays is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Hays appears to be over his lingering left calf injury, but he's now started just three of the last seven games for the Orioles. Colton Cowser will be in left field while Cedric Mullins plays center.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said after Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays that Hays is still dealing with lingering effects from his left calf injury, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hays was just activated from the 10-day injured list Monday following a three-week absence and evidently is still not feeling 100 percent. He delivered a pinch-hit double off the bench Wednesday but was immediately lifted for a pinch hitter. Despite Hays seemingly not being 100 percent healthy, a return to the IL doesn't seem to be in the cards. According to Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, Hyde is hopeful that Hays will be able to start Friday's game against the Mariners, though he could be deployed at designated hitter rather than in the outfield.

The Orioles reinstated Hays (calf) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

He'll be available off the bench for Monday's series opener versus the Blue Jays as the Orioles go with Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander as their starters in the outfield from left to right. Prior to landing on the shelf April 22 due to a tight calf, Hays had gotten off to a miserable start to the season, slashing .111/.200/.111 across 50 plate appearances. He showed more signs of life during his five-game rehab stint with Double-A Bowie (5-for-14 with two home runs, one double and three walks), but Hays may still have to settle for a fourth-outfielder role initially upon rejoining the big club. Hays should, however, play regularly against left-handed pitching, and he could re-emerge as an option to steal work against right-handed pitching from Cowser and Mullins, both of whom have struggled of late. Cowser is in the midst of a 7-for-50 stretch at the plate over his last 16 games, while Mullins has gone 5-for-50 over the same span and was actually benched against a pair of right-handed starters during this past weekend's series with the Diamondbacks.

Hays (calf) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hays has been working out with Bowie as he comes back from a left calf strain and is now ready for his first game action since April 20. With Colton Cowser's production slowing the last couple weeks, Hays could have a chance to regain more reps in left field once he's deemed ready to return from the 10-day injured list.

Hays will work out with Double-A Bowie this weekend, but it's unclear when his rehab assignment will start, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hays is nursing his way back from a strained left calf, an injury he sustained Apr. 20. While an official start date for his rehab assignment has yet to be announced, it's expected he'll do such at Bowie. Colton Cowser has taken hold of the starting job in left field, so the team has the luxury of not being forced to rush Hays back.

Hays (calf) said that he's been able to engage in a running program the past few days and plans to hit Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Brandon Hyde implied Monday that Hays had made limited progress in his recovery from a left calf strain, but the outfielder struck a much more optimistic tone when he talked about where he stood in his rehab program Thursday. Hays admitted he's unsure whether he'll need a rehab assignment prior to being activated from the 10-day injured list, as the Orioles could just allow him to get some competitive at-bats in during simulated games. Regardless, Hays likely won't be in store for an everyday role whenever he's activated, as rookie Colton Cowser appears to have established himself as Baltimore's top option in left field.