More Orioles notes before tonight's game (O's down 2-0)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez will pitch in a minor league game on Friday while Ubaldo Jimenez starts against the Braves.

Manager Buck Showalter is carefully lining up his starters as the final days of camp melt away.

"It just kind of fits whether somebody ends up in the 'pen or starting, they're all available on Monday," Showalter said. "It keeps everybody in play. Plus, I do think Ubaldo's had enough of the gray (road) pants."

The starter for Saturday's Grapefruit League finale against the Braves in Orlando remains TBD.

"We'll probably do a whole staff, make sure we get everybody the innings they need, maybe an inning here and there," Showalter said. "It might be Zach Davies again."

Wei-Yin Chen is lined up to start the second game of the regular season against the Rays at Tropicana Field, followed by Gonzalez in the third game.

Bud Norris is expected to start the home opener against the Blue Jays on April 10, but Showalter hasn't confirmed the rest of his rotation. Norris pitched this afternoon at Twin Lakes Park.

Update: Tillman, Chen and Gonzalez are confirmed for the opening series at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles continue to receive encouraging reports on shortstop J.J. Hardy, who will begin the season on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left shoulder.

Hardy is eligible to return on April 11, but the date seemed out of reach after the Orioles learned on Monday that the three-time Gold Glove winner would be shut down a minimum of 10 days.

"Dr. (Michael) Jacobs continues to be real positive about J.J.," Showalter said. "He was good again. We might have a shot at that eligibility date. Might."

Outfielder David Lough will play in a Triple-A game Friday in Port Charlotte as he returns from a hamstring injury. Lough will begin the season on the disabled list and be eligible to return on April 11.

"Hopefully, everything progresses well and he'll meet us the day before the (April 9) off-day back in Baltimore. He'll go to the welcome home get-together and have a workout there and work out for a day or two," Showalter said.

"He'll probably play, starting Friday, hopefully he plays in five or six straight games. Some of them will be in extended spring, some of them we might even send him on a rehab if it matches up with the minor league schedule, which right now it doesn't. So, he's probably going to have to get most of his at-bats here."

Showalter said he probably will make more cuts "closer to the last trip to Orlando" on Saturday.

Update: Pedro Alvarez hit a long two-run homer to right field off Chris Tillman in the second inning to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.

Alvarez leads the Grapefruit League with 17 RBIs.

Tillman has thrown 42 pitches in two innings, 25 for strikes. He went to a full count with the first three batters in the second.