More thoughts on the roster and how it could change

Seth Smith's return to the Orioles lineup last night gave them another leadoff option against right-handers and one fewer option in making room later this week for outfielder Joey Rickard.

The Orioles are determined to carry a five-man bench again, with one member of the organization saying, "It makes us a better team." Rickard played in his first injury rehab game last night at Single-A Delmarva, going 1-for-4 with a run scored, and likely will remain with the Shorebirds tonight.

Two starts and he could come off the disabled list and give the Orioles an extra position player.

With the Orioles not needing a fifth starter until May 2, they could send down Jayson Aquino and go with Vidal Nuño and Alec Asher as their long relievers. Manager Buck Showalter would continue to have a left-hander and right-hander as backups to a failed starter.

Closer Zach Britton will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and probably try to convince Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell that he's ready to return. The Orioles could option Stefan Crichton, who's a promising young right-hander with a 9.00 ERA in two major league appearances, his most recent outing on Sunday resulting in four hits among the five Red Sox batters he faced.

Crichton turned a lot of heads in spring training with eight scoreless innings. Four hits, no walks, seven strikeouts and some giddy-up on his fastball. Showalter predicted that we'd see Crichton at Camden Yards this summer. The former 23rd-rounder out of TCU is just going through some growing pains as he reaches the highest level.

"I think so," Showalter said. "It's so different here. One, the competition, and two, you're not on some schedule where you're throwing every other day and 'It's my turn to throw and I come in,' like we do in the minor leagues to make sure everybody keeps the ball in their hands.

"There's a process that guys go through and he's got a chance to be a good relief pitcher. And we're not going to throw dirt on him. He's certainly a guy that's capable of pitching here if he can get back to the command that he had in the spring."

If the above-mentioned moves are made - and I'm not predicting or endorsing - one more spot would need to open for Chris Tillman after he's activated - perhaps as early as May 2, though it may require another rehab start.

To keep the five-man bench, the Orioles could option Asher and go with Nuño as their lone long reliever.

Now comes the usual disclaimer: The Orioles could make other moves that change the landscape and how I've laid it out.

Left-hander Wade Miley has thrown five, six and eight innings in his three starts this month. Is a complete game in the offering tonight? Will the weather allow us to find out?

Miley is 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 0.842 WHIP in 19 innings, with four runs and eight hits allowed, eight walks and 24 strikeouts. Seven walks were spread over five innings in his debut.

Left-handers are 1-for-10 with a home run against Miley and right-handers are 7-for-53 with a home run. Opponents have crafted a slash line of .127/.236/.254.

The improvement against right-handers, though in a small sample size, is an important component of his fast start. (The guy works quickly, but no pun intended).

Right-handers hit .301 against Miley last season, while left-handers hit .234.

Miley is 4-2 with a 2.60 ERA in nine career starts against the Rays, with a 1.030 WHIP in 55 1/3 innings. The current group is batting .222 against him.

Kevin Kiermaier is 4-for-11 with a double, triple and home run, Rickie Weeks is 4-for-13 with a double, Derek Norris is 3-for-3, Steven Souza Jr. is 3-for-16 with a double and home run, and Evan Longoria is 5-for-24 with three doubles, two home runs and nine strikeouts.

Erasmo Ramírez is making his seventh appearance tonight and his second start. He's 2-0 with a 3.07 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 14 2/3 innings, with one walk and 10 strikeouts.

The lone start came on Thursday against the Tigers, when he allowed one run and two hits in five innings in an 8-1 win. He's 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA and 0.863 WHIP in 14 career games (six starts) against the Orioles over 53 1/3 innings and 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA and 0.985 WHIP in six games (three starts) at Camden Yards over 22 1/3 innings.

Chris Davis is 6-for-19 with two doubles and two home runs against Ramírez, Smith is 4-for-14 with two doubles and a home run, and Manny Machado is 5-for-23 with a double and home run.

Mark Trumbo is 1-for-17 and Jonathan Schoop is 2-for-15.