Hays (hand) said Thursday he's a couple days away from returning to the starting lineup, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hays is absent from the Orioles' starting nine for a second straight game Thursday after suffering a bruised right hand Tuesday when he got hit by a pitch. He's available to run and maybe even serve as a late-inning defensive replacement, but Hays probably won't be back in full until the latter part of the four-game series versus the Tigers.