More on Jones lineup intrigue and Rogers' expected Sunday start

ST. PETERBURG, Fla. - There may not be a more interesting moment today than the posting of the Orioles' lineup for their game against the Rays.

Adam Jones sat out last night's 14-2 loss, an unusual occurrence in a series opener and with a left-hander on the mound for the opposition. Joey Rickard started in right field and hit a two-run homer off Blake Snell to continue his assault on his former organization.

Meanwhile, Jones' name didn't appear in the box score.

Manager Buck Showalter spoke of the need to evaluate other players, though he's seen plenty of Rickard, and being "careful" with Jones physically. There could be an uncomfortable shift away from Jones in the final weeks of the season, expected to be his last with the Orioles.

If anyone is holding out hope that the Orioles re-sign Jones, it's probably a good idea to loosen the grip.

Jones wants to play. The Orioles are envisioning life without him as part of their rebuild, after he exercised his 10-5 rights and wouldn't approve a trade to the Phillies.

A second consecutive night off is going to enlarge the story. The media will be camped out at his locker.

Jones sent out a tweet last night that read: "Be a pro...take the high road!!!" That's exactly what he's going to do.

Where it leads him is unknown. Just don't count on Baltimore.

Rookie Josh Rogers figures to start Sunday afternoon's series finale, which also closes the three-city road trip, while Alex Cobb is pushed back in the rotation due to a blister. Rogers hadn't been told anything yesterday afternoon, but he was given a heads-up later in the day.

"I'm in limbo right now," he said while standing at his locker before batting practice. "I'm ready to start whenever, but they haven't told me a specific time or day or timetable for that."

The Orioles are drawing close to shutting down Rogers with his innings count at 150. The Sunday start could be his last in 2018.

"Physically, I feel fine, I feel good," he said. "Whatever kind of plan they have for me is good with me. It doesn't really matter whether I'm going to make two or three more starts here this year. Just, hopefully, whatever it is, I'll be ready for next year."

Rogers will continue to learn from the veteran pitchers in the clubhouse. He's been counseled by Cobb and Andrew Cashner. He might be running out of innings, but he has lots of room to absorb the knowledge.

"The experience part of it, talking to a lot of the older guys has been as beneficial, I think, as even the games, to be honest," he said. "Just seeing how everybody goes about their business in between starts and getting prepared. Just kind of the lifestyle up here, it's just so much different than the minor leagues, and I think that's been the biggest part so far."

Showalter has complimented Rogers to the media, particularly his confidence and demeanor. Rogers isn't bruised from all the pats on the back. He understands that encouragement is going to come in different sample sizes in the majors, in smaller waves than what he received as a kid.

"My Dad always asks that question. 'Do the coaches say anything to you?' I said, 'It's not like 12-year-old, 13-year-old baseball anymore,'" Rogers said with a chuckle.

"It's my job to go out there and log innings and get deep in games as a starter and hopefully I make a good impression. I'm not trying to say I don't care what they think, but I'm just trying to do my best and just control what I can control and hopefully it's good enough to give the team a chance."