With Brian Matusz likely headed for the disabled list, McFarland should be guaranteed an Opening Day roster spot.

EDGE Analysis

Baltimore is short on left-handers and McFarland could be the specialist for the first week of the season. It remains to be seen whether the Orioles would option McFarland when Matusz returns, or move him back to a long relief role. McFarland had a rough spring, allowing seven earned runs and 22 players to reach with a hit or walk in 11.2 innings this spring.

McFarland (elbow) will return to game action Tuesday or Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

McFarland has not appeared in a spring game since Mar. 6 due to his sore elbow, but he felt good during and after throwing a bullpen session Sunday, so he will resume pitching for the Orioles by mid-week.

McFarland (elbow) threw a bullpen session Sunday and if he feels fine Monday he could get in a game within a couple of days, MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

McFarland has had no setbacks since experiencing the discomfort in a Grapefruit League game a week ago. He has a solid chance at filling the final bullpen spot if he has a clean bill of health.

McFarland (elbow) played catch Friday up to 120 feet and says he feels great, Roch Kubatko of MASN reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's an optimistic outlook for McFarland, whose x-ray came back clean but still has no timetable to return. It was hoped McFarland could start a throwing program sometime this week, so it appears he's on the track the Orioles were hoping for.

McFarland (elbow) said he hopes to resume a throwing program this week, the Baltimore Sun reports. "The swelling's gone down again today, so that's a good sign," McFarland said. "It's going in the right direction. ... Still no specific dates or timeline or timetable yet, but the swelling's gone down significantly, so that's a good sign."

EDGE Analysis

McFarland was pulled from a spring game Sunday due to tightness in his elbow, but after an X-ray returned negative, the team does not appear too concerned. Manager Buck Showalter told the media it's realistic that McFarland could return to throwing later in the week. "Yeah, that would be in the range," Showalter said. "It's all dependent on how the swelling goes. It's going down, so it's very encouraging. It's good. It's a good sign."

An X-ray on McFarland's injured elbow came back clean, Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the good news, McFarland said he isn't sure when he might be able to throw again. There hasn't been any suggestion that he'll need an MRI, but it's still possible he could have one in the coming days. The 26-year-old lefty reliever is not assured of making Baltimore's Opening Day roster.

McFarland experienced elbow discomfort during Sunday's Grapefruit League game and will have an X-ray taken Monday, MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

McFarland allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in 1.1 innings Sunday. He said he believes the discomfort was a muscle issue rather than a joint issue. These would be two very different sensations and there is no doubt a muscle issue gives McFarland a much better prognosis than a joint issue. Brian Matusz (back) has also been hurt and it was thought McFarland could jump into the bullpen mix. A Triple-A assignment is also in the mix.

McFarland (2-2) picked up the victory in the 4-3 win over the Yankees on Saturday, throwing two scoreless innings in which he did not surrender any hits or walks. He also struck out a batter.

EDGE Analysis

McFarland pitched impressively after throwing 59 pitches over four innings Thursday against the Blue Jays. The 26-year-old pitched relatively well for the Orioles during two separate stints in 2015, with a pair of particularly poor outings in which he gave up a combined 11 earned runs over 2.1 innings serving as the primary culprits for the slightly elevated 4.58 ERA he wraps up the season with.

McFarland was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Sunday's game against the Indians, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. McFarland was called up as the 26th man for the second game of a doubleheader, and he ended up tossing two scoreless mop-up innings in an 8-0 win. He has a 2.70 ERA in 13.1 innings this season, but he's given up four unearned runs and has a 2.03 WHIP. Although he's only been used as a starter in the majors this season, McFarland can provide depth for both the bullpen and rotation. He's made seven starts for Triple-A Norfolk, albeit with each of those lasting fewer than six innings.

McFarland has been called up from Triple-A Norfolk to serve as the Orioles' 26th man for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Indians, Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports. The versatile McFarland will give the Orioles a reliever capable of covering multiple innings in the event the bullpen gets overworked in Game 1. McFarland, who has a 3.18 ERA but a 2.02 WHIP over 11.1 innings with the Orioles this season, is expected to be reassigned to Norfolk after Game 2 concludes.