Alexi Casilla to miss second straight start after tearing ligament in finger

Orioles second baseman Alexi Casilla will be absent from the starting lineup for a second straight game because of a finger injury suffered in the ninth inning of Sunday’s win at Tampa Bay.

Casilla said X-rays on his right index finger were negative, but he tore a ligament and is still waiting for the swelling to die down. He tried to throw Tuesday and still had difficulty.

“I was trying today,” Casilla said. “I just threw one, and that’s it.”

Ryan Flaherty will start in Casilla’s place again Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels and bat ninth.

Manager Buck Showalter said Casilla will be available to pinch run Tuesday, but he isn’t quite where he needs to be to start and play the field.

Casilla’s injury comes just as it seemed like he was getting a chance to break into the starting lineup. The switch hitter was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one walk and one run scored in Sunday’s 10-7 win and made an acrobatic tag of Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings as he attempted to steal second.

Since the beginning of May, Casilla has started nine of the 18 games he’s appeared in and batted .229 with five RBIs in those games. In that span, he’s started back-to-back games only twice.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Casilla said. “I don’t want to be mad about this because everything happens for a reason. I’ve got to try to stay calm and patient and I’ll be ready to play any time my finger lets me play.”

For now, though, it’s a waiting game for Casilla’s return.

“I’ll be fine tomorrow,” Casilla said. “I’ve just got to let the medicine work.”

[e-mail]