Buck Showalter on Kevin Gausman: "I don't know if it's a big concern"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Kevin Gausman is on the shelf for at least a few more days after receiving a cortisone injection this morning in his right shoulder.

Manager Buck Showalter informed the media during batting practice that Gausman would miss his next start.

"Gausman has had some shoulder tendinitis, just kind of working his way through and decided to take an injection today," Showalter said. "He decided to take one just to hopefully get it cleared up. He'll be down for about three days from the injection before we pick back up again.

"He's been on the treatment list for about a week or so. Richie (Bancells) and the doctors and Kevin decided to go ahead just to see if they could get it out of there while they've got time. We'll adjust his schedule a little bit."

It's during these times that we try to gauge Showalter's level of concern.

"I don't know if it's a big concern," he said. "Any time a guy's not ... He's had some inflammation in there and we just want to get rid of that. We feel good about it structurally. Hasn't managed to go away completely.

"When we have some time here, try and clear it up before we break camp. Hopefully, that's all it is. See where we are in two or three days. He won't pick up a ball for two or three days.

"I don't think he's ever had a shot before. He just decided to go ahead and do it now while we have some time to play with."

The media didn't learn about Gausman's shoulder discomfort until today. His last start came on March 16 against the Pirates, when he tossed three scoreless innings before allowing three runs in the fourth.

"The last seven to 10 days he's been on the sheet getting treatment on it," Showalter said. "We thought it would manage and once we reached this date and getting closer to the season, we just wanted to go ahead and take that precaution of trying to help him get that last bit out of there."

Showalter doesn't think this is the traditional dead arm period for Orioles pitchers in camp.

"I actually thought we had it earlier this year for some reason and we're starting to see a lot of the velocities creep up," he said. "It's a little different this year. I think we had it a lot more early. I saw it with a lot of guys. Now, they seem to really be coming on."

As I wrote earlier, catcher Matt Wieters made 25 throws this morning and extended to 60 feet. It's another positive development for Wieters, who hasn't played since leaving a March 12 game in the first inning with a sore right elbow.

"That was encouraging with Matt today," Showalter said. "I'll be interested in how he feels tomorrow. He threw with a lot of intensity, too, at 60 feet. He worked his way to 60."

Showalter checked whether Wieters, Pedro Alvarez and Hyun Soo Kim want to hit Monday at Twin Lakes Park while the Orioles are off for the only time this spring.

"We're going to decide that at lunch time," Showalter said.

Outfielder Xavier Avery has been shut down with a right hip flexor, but he may be nearing a return.

"Avery's a little better today," Showalter said. "That's an improvement there. Day to day. I think he's moving now. I think he's moving on the positive side of it."

Dylan Bundy continues to feel good as the Orioles increase his workload. He pitched twice in three days last week and worked two scoreless innings on Wednesday.

"That was real encouraging," Showalter said. "That's probably one of the highlights this year is to come back with only one day off and have that type of command and stuff. That was really one of the last things we wanted to see."

The Orioles will continue to stretch out Bundy and could have him work on back-to-back days, according to the schedule set up by pitching coach Dave Wallace.

"I think a little bit of both," Showalter said. "I think Wally's plans are to do both with him. Probably give him another extended outing and also we'd like to do some back to back with him before it's over. It's in his best interest."

Other pitchers will start working on back-to-back days and being stretched out a little as spring training winds down.

"Starting Monday, we're going to do a lot of stuff with Darren (O'Day) and (Brad) Brach and Zach (Britton)," Showalter said. We've already done it where those guys are going to pitch an inning or two, going to pitch back-to-back. We'll do that down in minor league camp."