Orioles weigh Tillman's return, Bundy's next start (we're tied)

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the club will wait until Chris Tillman takes his work day on Sunday before making a decision on his next start.

Tillman could be activated from the disabled list and start Tuesday or stay on his rehab assignment. Though Showalter didn't show his hand, it seems like the Orioles want Tillman to make one more start with an affiliate before returning him to the rotation.

"Keep in mind that spring training is usually six starts, and he's had four. This will be his fifth coming up on the 2nd somewhere, whether it's here or somewhere else," Showalter said, factoring in an outing at extended spring training. "We'll see how the work day goes.

"I'd be fine with four if he felt real well because he had a lot under his belt. We kind of backed off him I think it was March 12, so you try to keep in mind that's been a while. It's not a pure velocity thing with Chris, either. He's such a pitcher. And I think some things will tick up a little bit with the bells and whistles and the big lights being on. He said he felt like he made a good stride there with his command more than anything. Chris is not paying a lot of attention, and we're not, with radar guns at this point."

One reason why the Orioles could activate Tillman after four outings instead of five is because he had an opportunity to amp up late in February before the Orioles shut him down.

"He was so close to being ready to start there, and then we backed off him," Showalter said. "We'll see how things go with the work day."

Tillman met today with Showalter, pitching coach Roger McDowell and bullpen coach Alan Mills.

"Wanted to hear what Chris had to say," Showalter said. "He's close. In my gut I've got an idea what we're going to do, but I want to wait and see how the work day goes. We'll have to make some adjustments if we decide that he needs another start down there so we can have either (Jayson) Aquino or (Alec) Asher ready to pitch on the 2nd. Or maybe even on the 1st."

Dylan Bundy's next turn is Monday, but Showalter may give the right-hander an extra day of rest.

"I also want to wait on Dylan's work day," Showalter said. "We're going to take everything, all the information in like we do all the time and see what the best way is to proceed.

"Everything's in play. We do it all year long. We're in a long period now without any off-days."

Showalter and former pitching coach Dave Wallace tried last season to find ways to provide additional rest for Bundy. It hasn't been a priority this month, but he could be pushed back a day next week.

"We felt like it was important to keep him on schedule coming out of the spring, especially with Tillman's situation," Showalter said, "but now that we're into it a little bit and you've got some bodies of work to look at, if there's an adjustment to be made with any of them, we'll do it."

Closer Zach Britton will throw an inning at Double-A Bowie tonight and come off the disabled list Sunday or Tuesday, depending on whether he needs to stay on his rehab assignment.

"I'm kind of leaning on him and the guys who are there," Showalter said. "I think it's going to be more a command thing, if he feels like he's got command and an idea where the ball is going."

The lineup includes Joey Rickard for the first time since April 8.

"Joey feels good," Showalter said. "We feel good about him physically. Got those questions answered."

Rickard played in three games at Single-A Delmarva, including Wednesday's doubleheader.

"The last couple days have been a lot better," Rickard said. "I've been doing some baseball activities and got a couple games in. Today is what I ultimately wanted and I'm very happy about it."

Rickard was expected to start right away with the Yankees sending left-hander CC Sabathia to the mound.

"It's good to get in there right away, get a game under my belt and get things rolling again," he said.

Rickard only played one game in left field at Delmarva. He served as the designated hitter for both ends of the doubleheader due to the wet conditions.

"It's just good to be out there again with my teammates and help contribute," he said.

Playing at the low Single-A level brought back some memories for last year's Rule 5 pick.

"You definitely remember being there a couple years prior, but it's all fun," he said. "Baseball is baseball and it's the same game at every level. But it brought me back a little bit and it was fun."

Showalter said Miguel Castro's fastball yesterday was 97-98 mph at extended spring training. Castro will pitch down there again on Sunday before joining Double-A Bowie.

Update: Manny Machado's two-out, two-run double to center field in the third inning broke a scoreless tie. The rally started with Rickard's infield hit with two outs and continued after Adam Jones walked.

Update II: Welington Castillo hit his first home run as an Oriole, an opposite-field, two-run shot in the fourth after CC Sabathia hit Chris Davis with a pitch.

Update III: Machado hit a 470-foot home run to center field in the top of the fifth, and the Yankees' Aaron Judge countered with a home run in the bottom half. Orioles 5, Yankees 1

Update IV: Mark Trumbo hit his fourth career grand slam in the sixth after reliever Bryan Mitchell replaced Sabathia. The Yankees trimmed the lead to 9-4 in the bottom half on Didi Gregorius' RBI grounder and Judge's two-run homer.

Update V: Jonathan Schoop's two-run single off Mitchell in the sixth increased the lead to 11-4.

Update VI: Jacoby Ellsbury hit a grand slam off Vidal Nuño in the seventh to reduce the lead to 11-8. Nuño entered the game after Gausman walked Austin Romine.

Gausman is charged with five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings.

Ellsbury has 100 career home runs, including one slam.

Update VII: The Yankees tied the game in the ninth on Starlin Castro's two-run homer off Brad Brach after Ellsbury's RBI grounder. Brach hadn't surrendered a run in 11 appearances before tonight.