First start pushed back yet again, Mike Wright looks forward to season debut

Orioles right-hander Mike Wright left spring training as the club's No. 4 starter. He was set to make his first 2016 start on Friday night against Tampa Bay. Then Chris Tillman pitched just two innings on opening day due to rain and had his next start moved up to Friday. Wright would have to wait another day, as he was pushed back to start last night versus Tampa Bay.

But then last night's game was postponed, but not before Wright did a full warm-up, which meant he could not start today and that Vance Worley would. Pushed back again.

"I'm going to pitch in a few days," Wright said this morning in the Orioles clubhouse. "Yesterday, I threw pretty much a full-length, high-intensity bullpen. I was in the dugout, ready to take the field and we got canceled. Nobody throws a full-length bullpen and starts the next day. I threw about 40 pitches, like I said at high intensity."

Now Wright's season debut is scheduled for Tuesday night in Boston against the Red Sox.

"I'm very excited," he said. "This is the most excited I've ever been for a season in a long time and I've already been pushed back four days now, so it's even building more now. Had a good spring and I'm ready to get rolling with the season now.

"There are a lot of things I've changed and some things I haven't changed. Look to be more efficient getting outs. It's different when you are comfortable and you know your surroundings and what to expect going into the season."

Wright had a solid spring training, earning the No. 4 starter spot. He went 2-2 with a 4.79 ERA, allowing 11 earned runs over 20 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts in six spring starts.

"Confidence is the key and this spring I was actually going in there not for experience, but for competition," he said. "I feel like I earned my spot and now it's time to do it up here."

He hopes the third time is the charm and he finally gets to take the mound on Tuesday. Yovani Gallardo is scheduled to start Monday in the Boston series for the Orioles, followed by Wright and Ubaldo Jimenez on Wednesday.