Showalter on Pearce, roster, lineup and rotation (updated)

BOSTON - Steve Pearce still had a locker inside the visiting clubhouse today at Fenway Park. The player wasn't anywhere to be found. Just his uniforms and lingering questions about his availability for the remainder of the season.

Pearce received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right forearm near the elbow following an exam in New York.

"Got an issue in there," said manager Buck Showalter. "He was injected with PRP and we'll let it run its course and see if he's going to be available to us at some point. That's pretty bland, right? It was intended to be.

"See if he gets back in time tonight to pinch-hit, pinch-run, do something. I'm not giving it up. No, he's not going to be available tonight. We'll see what tomorrow brings."

It wouldn't be realistic to expect Pearce to get right back in the lineup after an injection that needs a sufficient amount of time to work.

"If memory serves, it's two or three days, but everybody's a little different with it," Showalter said. "They found what they thought they would find. I'm optimistic that he'll be able to do some things for us again this season.

"What capacity, I'm not sure. We're not going to do anything until the season's over with anything he may have, so we'll try to rehab it and get him back on the field."

If it sounds vague, that's the intention.

Veteran infielder Paul Janish is back with the Orioles.

"Probably activate him tomorrow," Showalter said. "Been down in Sarasota for a little bit and got him here today. Needed another infielder."

The Orioles chose an infielder while anticipating outfielder Joey Rickard's return.

"We've got Rickard coming Monday, we hope, so we're trying to get through the weekend," Showalter said. "We've got Dariel (Alvarez) and Christian (Walker), so we could bring one of them. We thought about that, too. We might bring another outfielder. But Stevie more was some coverage for us in the infield, too, at second base and third base.

"That's one of the reasons why we wanted to get Paul here. It's kind of tough when we have a game where we're way ahead or way behind, I'd like to get somebody off the field besides just J.J. (Hardy)."

Rickard is on the 60-day disabled list with a right thumb injury. He's been engaged in a hitting progression in Sarasota.

"So far so good," Showalter said. "He's going to play in three games down there, probably Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We'll have a good idea. I'm just saying there's potential to have him activated on Monday."

Ryan Flaherty is making his first start tonight since Aug. 11 in Oakland. Hyun Soo Kim is on the bench again despite the Red Sox starting right-hander Rick Porcello.

"Ryan was a better option for us," Showalter said. "He's played left field here, too. He's familiar with it. Trying to get some coverage in that big right field."

Still no updates on Sunday's starter against the Rays and whether Wade Miley stays in the rotation.

"When I tell the player, I'll tell you all, OK?" Showalter said. "I can tell you what we're thinking, but the player's going to hear about it first.

"We're trying to put our best foot forward here every day and taking in a lot of information. See how everybody's feeling, see how guys do and see how they feel and we'll put our best foot forward on Sunday."

Showalter didn't have much to say about the 2017 schedule that was released to the public this afternoon. Only one West Coast trip was a nice touch.

"I've been looking at it for about a month. It can't be any worse than this year's," he said.

"The one I've been looking at is spring training. That's the worst one we've ever had."

Update: Mark Trumbo led off the top of the second inning with his 42nd home run to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. His 100 RBIs tie his career high set in 2013.