Notes on Jones, an expanded roster and Walker (updated)

SAN FRANCISCO - Did anyone really doubt whether Adam Jones would be in center field this afternoon for the series finale against the Giants?

A pitch from Madison Bumgarner last night smashed into the fingers of Jones' right hand as he tried to lay down a bunt. He was in excruciating pain, downplayed it afterward and will lead off this afternoon.

The usual drill.

Manager Buck Showalter said he talked to head athletic trainer Richie Bancells about Jones' toughness, one of the veteran's more underrated qualities.

"That's the part about Adam that people (overlook)," Showalter said. "There's a term I've heard, and I don't want to jinx him. They talk about bad and good tissue. He's a good healer."

Jones also avoids drawing attention to himself in situations where he's hurting, which made his reaction to being hit last night so startling. He stepped out of the box, grabbed the hand and bent forward as Bancells raced onto the field. He was in legit pain, but returned to center field the next inning.

"He's not a guy that gets involved in eyewash of trying to let everybody feel every ounce of discomfort," Showalter said. "I think the word you never use to describe him is 'eyewash' or 'false hustle.' Adam posts up. I know what we have in him and it's an honor to watch him post up every day.

"He's hammering balls off his feet and he's back to hitting around .280. He's going to have another Adam Jones year. Play the heck out of center field and post up. There are guys who play 90 games in center field and play at a Gold Glove level. Adam plays a lot more games than they do and plays at a high level, so I give him some benefit for that. I think it's a good example. He's a tough guy."

Showalter hasn't talked to executive vice president Dan Duquette about roster expansion in September. As usual, Showalter doesn't want a crowded clubhouse and dugout. He doesn't want players unnecessarily taking up space, and he definitely won't be holding auditions while the Orioles are in contention.

Of course, he also tends to avoid it when they aren't in contention, feeling an obligation to post his best lineups for opponents.

"I've thought about it in my head and with the coaches, kind of banged some things around, but I haven't approached that subject at all with Dan," Showalter said. "I don't want 40 guys up here. I want guys up here that can help us."

The Orioles will get back Rule 5 outfielder Joey Rickard, reliever Darren O'Day and left-handers T.J. McFarland and Brian Duensing. They're hoping that it won't take until September for all four of them to return.

"Some before that, I hope," he said.

"I'm not going to get into exactly what I think. We'll sit down and bang it around again. Things will change the next couple of weeks. In our situation, it's not going to be a tryout camp. It's going to be: come up here and help us. I know Dan feels that way."

Christian Walker would be an easy addition, since he's on the 40-man roster. He's batting .258/.322/.408 - a slash line almost identical to the one he posted last year - with 22 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 108 games at Triple-A Norfolk.

The outfield experiment continues with Walker.

"He's played OK out there," Showalter said. "He's gotten better as the season's went on. I was just reading the narratives about him this morning. He hasn't had the year he hoped he would have. He's done some good things out there. New position. He's done OK out there. He's not going to be Adam Jones, but who is?"

Update: Buster Posey has been scratched from the lineup with back tightness.

For the Giants
Denard Span CF
Angel Pagan LF
Brandon Belt 1B
Hunter Pence RF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Brandon Crawford SS
Trevor Brown C
Joe Panik 2B
Johnny Cueto RHP