Buck Showalter on the rotation, Hyun Soo Kim and guys on the bubble

SARASOTA, Fla. - While Miguel Gonzalez remains on the waiver wire, Orioles manager Buck Showalter is avoiding the subject until the right-hander's fate is determined.

Showalter seems to have settled on his five starters unless there's a late change before rosters are set on Sunday. It likely would have to involve an outsider.

Gonzalez's poor outings in the Grapefruit League were part of the reason why the Orioles decided to let him go. Spring training numbers had some influence on decisions regarding the backend of the rotation, which played into the hands of Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson.

"Some of it," Showalter said. "A lot of it though is track record where everybody's concerned. You look at where they've been for the last year. All these guys. Whether it's Miguel, Mike or Tyler.

"With the exception of (Vance) Worley, we have a lot of history with them. We have a pretty good idea when it's right and when it's not. You don't just base it on two weeks of spring training. You base it on a big body of work. And knowing all along this is an inexact science, but that's all you've got to go on."

Did the decision come down to the end?

"Still kind of going down a little bit," Showalter replied.

"The schedule (Kevin) Gausman is on is probably the 19th. Will be the first time with him if everything goes well on his rehab. We're not going to rush that. We're going to get it right the first time."

The Orioles will send Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound for the opening series against the Twins at Camden Yards. The order could have varied, according to Showalter.

"Just the whole month and the maneuverability and the ability to match up some guys where they kind of fit a little better," he said. "We could have taken of the three and you could flip-flop all three of the spots."

Showalter wasn't ready at batting practice to announce his last two starters, though he decided on them.

"I have. We have," he said. "They'll hear it from me and Wally (Dave Wallace). Probably today at lunch.

"What are we calling it when we have lunch at 4? It's not even brunch. Lupper? Linner? I'm sure there's something with the in crowd they call it."

I wrote earlier today that Jimenez will stay back in camp and throw while the Orioles travel to Philadelphia for Friday night's game. Some relievers also will remain in camp for their side sessions.

Hyun Soo Kim remains on the bench for tonight's game against the Tigers. He hasn't played since Saturday.

Showalter didn't have any updates on Kim's situation. The Orioles are waiting for him to decide whether he'll accept an assignment to the minors.

"New from yesterday? No. I can say that. But there's always factors there that I'm not really aware of. Dan (Duquette) is handling all that," Showalter said.

Kim will remain on the bench this week while in limbo.

"I'm probably not going to play him until Dan gets ... until the situation comes to a head. It's prudent where we are right now," Showalter said.

Showalter said he hasn't told any bubble players that they made the club. Such a list would include Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard, though it's already been decided.

"I want to make sure we're 100 percent there before we go there," Showalter said. "We've got until Sunday at noon, I think it is. But going into the workout today I've got a pretty good idea how we're going with the pitching and then we've got to decide which way we're going to go with a couple spots with position players."

The Orioles brought left-handers Ariel Miranda, Donnie Hart and Nick Additon, infielders Ozzie Martinez, Garabez Rosa and Michael Almanzar, and outfielder Julio Borbon from minor league camp for tonight's game.