Orioles J.J. Hardy removed early from Sunday night game with right hamstring strain

J.J. Hardy, who has missed six games so far thanks in part to an ailing back, was removed for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning of the Orioles' Sunday Night Baseball game against the Red Sox. The O's reported to media that Hardy had a right hamstring strain and would be day-to-day.

With an 11:05am start for Monday morning, it seems all but certain that Hardy will not be appearing in that game either. Whether he will miss any more time than that is still up in the air. The O's next off day is not until May 1, so there won't be any time for him to rest where he won't also be missing games.

The Orioles already paid a price for Hardy's absence within one inning. Ryan Flaherty replaced Hardy at shortstop and dropped a transfer that would have resulted in an out, possibly a double play, prolonging an inning that went on to feature an Orioles meltdown from the days of yore. Jonathan Schoop, who shifted from second to third in the process, also bungled a play that could have ended the inning before the Red Sox tied the game.

If Hardy needs to go on the disabled list, that would probably mean the return of Jemile Weeks in his place.