Orioles need Mike Wright to be the right choice

If there's a silver lining in the Orioles' rotation woes, it's the wealth of candidates who can fill the vacancies.

It may not seem like an abundance of arms, but consider the past. Remember how the Triple-A roster was littered with journeymen and failed prospects? How a pitcher needed one decent outing and proper rest to earn serious consideration for a promotion?

Sometimes, all it took was a pulse.

Hold a mirror under their noses to make sure they're still breathing and hand them a plane ticket.

Let's fast-forward to the present. Mike Wright was recalled on Wednesday after the Orioles decided to place Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, and his major league debut is coming today against the Angels. Tyler Wilson flew to Baltimore yesterday to provide insurance. Zach Davies has posted a 2.70 ERA in seven starts with the Tides.

These are three legitimate pitching prospects who figure to compete for spots in the 2016 rotation in spring training.

Steve Johnson is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA, five walks and 28 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings over 11 appearances, including one start as Wright's replacement. However, he isn't stretched out enough following surgery on his right shoulder to be considered for a start during the Orioles' current homestand. He's more of a bullpen option down the road - if the Orioles don't mind that he's out of options.

Fans clamoring for Dylan Bundy need to be reminded that he's currently restricted to three innings per start at Double-A Bowie and he pitched Friday night, which also makes him unavailable. But I like your enthusiasm.

The Orioles are thrilled with their pitching depth at the upper levels of the system, and that includes Kevin Gausman, who will start at Norfolk after he comes off the disabled list.

Left-hander T.J. McFarland is available in long relief if Wright is knocked out early. No pressure on Wright besides pitching in his first major league game and trying to prevent the Angels from completing a sweep.

May as well add "stopper" to the resume.

The Orioles faced Angels starter Garrett Richards once last season, handing him a 4-3 loss at Camden Yards. He allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings, with no walks and four strikeouts.

Richards is 0-2 with a 7.31 ERA in six games (two starts) against the Orioles, and 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in three games (one start) at Camden Yards.

Adam Jones is 3-for-8 (.375) with a home run against Richards, who has posted a 2.27 ERA in five starts for the Angels this season.

Steve Pearce was 3-for-23 going into last night, but he singled, homered and lined to left field. He's got to stay in the lineup now that his bat is coming to life.

The single came against the shift, when Pearce reached out and slapped the ball past the mound and into a vacant spot on the right side of the infield.

"It was good to see Stevie," said manager Buck Showalter. "We were waiting for that first hit he got. It's funny all the things you do to try to get back in the groove, so to speak, and sometimes it's a hit like that that gets you going. But it's the product of Steve sticking his nose out there with two strikes and putting the ball in play instead of striking out, something that we need to do a better job with.

"Doesn't surprise me that Steve's the guy who did that. I'll take that out of it."

Shameless plug alert: I'm appearing on "O's Xtra" at 1 p.m. on MASN.