Pregame notes on opt-outs, bullpen, bad blood and more (updated)

Pedro Álvarez isn't in Triple-A Norfolk's lineup tonight for the first time, no coincidence on his opt-out date.

Álvarez is batting .223/.296/.456 with 12 doubles, 12 home runs and 39 RBIs in 52 games. The experiment in right field hasn't been positive and Álvarez would be a left-handed designated hitter if the Orioles tried to fit him on their roster.

"There's some conversation about what direction he's going to go," said manager Buck Showalter, who met earlier today with executive vice president Dan Duquette and assistant Lee Thomas.

"He's come on here lately as he's gotten closer to that day. That's how it sometimes works."

Is Álvarez a better fit now than earlier in the year?

"A little bit," Showalter replied. "It's like, 'Oh, we don't have roster space,' and then Barry Bonds becomes available. You somehow find a spot on the roster. There's always a way, you know?

"Dan and I were discussing, not only him, but with some other people, how we might do it. We've got 40-man flexibility, too. We've worked hard with it and there's three or four spots there."

The bench always includes a utility infielder, whether it's Ryan Flaherty - who's on the disabled list - or Paul Janish. Could the Orioles go without one in order to add another hitter?

"Depending on who it is," Showalter said.

"As the game goes on, one thing that's become real obvious is you're going to have a real problem in the American League if you don't have one guy who can play all over. Someone who allows you to go with a three-man bench during the season.

"That's one of the things that Ryan has brought is he can play infield, outfield and can catch if he had to. Paul Janish reminded me that he's caught."

Álvarez's belongings remain in his locker, but he hasn't been seen today, according to The Virginian-Pilot's David Hall.

Update: Álvarez has been added to Norfolk's lineup tonight, so he remains in the organization. Stay tuned.

Pitcher Edwin Jackson's opt-out date also is today and he told Hall that he's undecided.

The Orioles prefer flexibility in their bullpen, but they believe that Jackson could be a useful piece in long and short relief. He's posted a 3.26 ERA in 11 appearances (one start), with seven runs and 20 hits over 19 1/3 innings. He's walked 10, struck out 15 and hit two batters.

The Orioles decided that their bullpen didn't need any reinforcements tonight. Mike Wright is available after throwing 17 pitches last night.

"We didn't feel the need to add a pitcher," Showalter said.

Ubaldo Jiménez still isn't available for long relief after going six innings on Sunday. Showalter said he wants to avoid using "a couple of guys."

Showalter is hesitant to check on catcher Welington Castillo, saying, "That's not a conversation that's easy to have other than, 'How are you feeling?' "

Castillo went on the disabled list yesterday with a testicular injury sustained Tuesday night on a deflected pitch while catching.

"I was trying real hard not to use the wrong word yesterday to describe it. We got away with 'groin,' right?" Showalter said.

"I'm going to probably talk to him a little later. What you don't want to hear is, 'I feel 100 percent and I could have played today.' But that's not going to happen. The doctors wouldn't have let us play him for at least three or four days. He's running a real risk if he gets hit there again during that period."

A group of Boston reporters sat in on Showalter's pregame media session. The possibility of lingering bad blood between the teams remains a storyline, but it's only a topic of conversation with the Orioles when the media broaches the subject.

"Obviously, you guys and ladies do have to bring it up because it's part of what you do," Showalter said. "I think that's when it comes into play more. There's a lot of that that comes into play because of the way it's, rightfully so, covered. It's not a topic in our locker room. It's more about how to figure out how to beat these really good pitchers that they have. We've got our hands full with too many things to have that be part of your preparation.

"It's not for us and I'm sure more than likely it isn't for them. We'd like to play the game."

The Orioles will attempt tonight to post pitch types on the electronic board in left-center field instead of listing only the velocities. It used to be done, but was stopped early this season due to constant errors in identifying the pitches.

"It's a league thing. It's not us," Showalter said. "That's why it was so good last year, because we ran it. But now, they've got some computer thing. There's no person, which is why it's so messed up. The human element was taken out of it. So we've got that going for us."

Here are the starters for the two-game series against the Pirates at Camden Yards:

Tuesday: Kevin Gausman vs. Ivan Nova
Wednesday: Wade Miley vs. Chad Kuhl

For the Red Sox
Mookie Betts RF
Chris Young LF
Xander Bogaerts SS
Hanley Ramirez DH
Sam Travis 1B
Josh Rutledge 2B
Christian Vázquez C
Jackie Bradley Jr. CF
Devon Marrero 3B

Eduardo Rodriguez LHP