Notes on cuts, Hardy and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are expected to make at least five cuts later today. They won't be announced until after the split-squad games in Sarasota and Dunedin.

The vast majority of players optioned or reassigned will be position players.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said shortstop J.J. Hardy's left shoulder is much better today. The club is encouraged, but an MRA is still scheduled for Monday.

Hardy injured the shoulder while diving for a ground ball on Friday.

"J.J.'s a lot better," Showalter said. "I'm not going to say definitively anything until we get the MRA tomorrow, but it's encouraging today.

"He slept last night without any discomfort. The night before he was tossing and turning all night with it. His face and body language are a lot better today."

David Lough is expected to be in Monday's lineup against the Rays in Port Charlotte. The Orioles are giving his back one more day.

Triple-A Norfolk's Ron Johnson is managing the Orioles' split-squad in Dunedin. B.J. Surfhoff is the bench coach, Mike Bordick is the first base coach and Jose Hernandez is the third base coach.

"That's going to be tough test for (Ubaldo) Jimenez," Showalter said. "I'm anxious to see how he does. They'll have their A lineup in there and the wind's blowing out to right field, I noticed."

Jimenez is allowed to face the Blue Jays today, which leads to speculation that he won't pitch against them in the opening series at Camden Yards.

"The most important thing this spring is for him to pitch as many innings as he can pitch regardless of who it's against," Showalter said. "If a starting pitcher is on his game, it doesn't matter who he's facing.

"With the off-day (on April 9), we can do about anything we want to do."

Upcoming pitching matchups:

Monday: Zach Davies vs. the Rays' Matt Andriese in Port Charlotte. Tuesday: Kevin Gausman vs. the Rays' Everett Teaford in Sarasota.