Alvarez is not in the lineup against the Yankees on Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez will take a seat on the bench for the fourth straight contest after starting three of the first four games as the Orioles' DH. Danny Valencia will man the position and bat fifth in Friday's contest.

Alvarez will bat seventh out of the DH spot for Thursday's game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez officially earned a spot on the Opening Day roster and will likely serve as the team's designated hitter until Mark Trumbo returns from a quadriceps injury. The 31-year-old may not remain with the major-league team once Trumbo is activated from the 10-day DL, so this first week will have great implications for Alvarez moving forward.

Alvarez's chances of cracking the Orioles' Opening Day roster improved with Mark Trumbo (quadriceps) expected to open the season on the disabled list, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Trumbo is projected to serve as the Orioles' primary designated hitter this season, so if the team is looking for another power-minded bat to fill in while he's likely sidelined through early-to-mid April, Alvarez may make for a more attractive alternative than Danny Valencia, Craig Gentry or Alex Presley, who are also jockeying for bench roles. Alvarez's defensive shortcomings are well known, so if he opens the season with the big club, it's difficult to envision him sticking around for long once Trumbo returns. Alvarez, who spent the bulk of the 2017 campaign at Triple-A Norfolk and slugged 26 home runs and 31 doubles across 595 plate appearances, has gone 10-for-42 at the dish with three extra-base knocks this spring.

Alvarez signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Sunday, Rich Dubroff of PressBoxonline.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez is two years removed from slugging 22 home runs as the Orioles' primary designated hitter, but the veteran first baseman spent the majority of his 2017 campaign with Triple-A Norfolk, where he slashed .239/.294/.442 over nearly 600 plate appearances. Alvarez will likely open the season in Triple-A again, where he'll serve as organization depth at the designed hitter and first base positions.

Alvarez went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs and two walks in Monday's loss to Boston.

EDGE Analysis

For the first time eight-year career, Alvarez reached base five times in a single game. He's hitting .333/.429/.667 through 14 plate appearances since being recalled earlier this month. The once prominent MLB slugger has only two starts in his eight games thus far, but Alvarez is a decent value option in daily formats when the veteran is in the lineup.

Alvarez will be in the starting lineup Friday for the first time this season, Rich Dubroff of PressBoxonline.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Seth Smith usually starts against opposing right-handers, but he is just 2-for-11 against Yankees starter Luis Severino, so with Severino on the mound Friday, Mark Trubmo will start in right field, and Alvarez will get a chance to knock one out as the designated hitter.

Alvarez's contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

He failed to impress at Triple-A this year, hitting .239/.294/.442 with 26 home runs in 138 games. Given his inability to provide quality defense anywhere on the diamond, and the Orioles' plethora of better versions of that type of player, Alvarez will primarily be used as a pinch hitter in the final month.

Alvarez will be promoted by the Orioles on Friday, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarez had a successful stint with the Orioles last season but has spent all of this year at Triple-A Norfolk due to Baltimore's roster construction at the major league level. He'll add some left-handed pop off the bench for Baltimore and could see occasional starts at DH. Alvarez had 26 home runs in 542 minor league at-bats this season.

Alvarez is being considered for a September callup, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Inked to a minor-league deal in March, Alvarez was all set to opt out in late May but the Orioles convinced him to stay put. It sounds like his patience may pay off, as Alvarez is in the mix to come up and provide additional thump off the bench over the season's final month. The 30-year-old has hit just .241 with a .296 on-base percentage with Triple-A Norfolk this year, but the trademark power is still there (26 homers in 584 plate appearances).

The Orioles have discussed bringing Alvarez up from Triple-A Norfolk, although no reports suggest a move is imminent, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Buck Showalter recently said his club has been keeping tabs on Alvarez's minor-league success. Through 113 games with the Tides, the seven-year MLB veteran has 25 home runs, 79 RBI and 52 runs. Alvarez has even cut down on his strikeout rate, managing a career-low 22.8 percent through 487 plate appearances. He'll almost certainly be a September callup, but there isn't much room for him in the O's current lineup.