Showalter on Tillman's shoulder, Bundy done after two innings

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Whatever optimism that the Orioles held for Chris Tillman making his debut on April 15 pretty much vanished this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

Tillman's third bullpen session never materialized due to the right shoulder discomfort that shut him down earlier in camp. The Orioles hoped that an antibiotic that caused soreness in his joints was responsible for Wednesday's subpar session, and held him back an extra day before this morning's attempt.

"Started to play catch, long toss and stuff to get ready to go to the mound, and after about 10 throws we shut it down. Still got some discomfort there," said manager Buck Showalter.

The usual next step is getting a second opinion.

"We'll see," Showalter said. "I'd like to think that medication had something to do with it, but this was kind of same spot, kind of hot, so we'll see. It's discouraging for Chris, I know."

It's a major concern for a team that has called upon Tillman to make the opening day start the past three seasons. They knew he wouldn't get the ball on April 3, but today's setback is alarming.

Showalter was in fact-gathering mode with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, who made the trip to Fort Myers and is consulting with Ravens head orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Lee Ann Curl.

Asked whether Tillman goes back to "square one" in spring training, Showalter replied, "I wouldn't go that far yet."

"What is square one?" he asked. "I don't want to be that dark cloud. We'll get our arms around what the next step is. I'm sure that by the time we get back tonight ... I started talking to Richie a little bit about what he knew, but it got to be 12:15 and I told him we'd talk about it in the dugout some more and see what Dr. Curl says. She's really good. We're lucky we've got her down there. So we'll see what direction he goes.

"I know it's a big year for Chris on a lot of fronts, so hopefully ... Oh knows? He may come in in a couple days feeling a lot better. I don't know. I'm not expecting it, though."

The discomfort raises the red flag higher because Tillman spent three weeks on the disabled list last summer with shoulder discomfort, though it didn't seem to bother him as much while he pitched. Tillman received a platelet-rich plasma injection in December after informing the Orioles that the shoulder didn't feel right.

"It's the same thing he missed time with last year," Showalter said. "Richie said he could start kind of back from scratch. We think we know what we're dealing with physically. If that is still the same, there hasn't been some change in that, he should be able to pitch at some point, just not quite as quick as we had hoped.

"The worst-case scenario for me, well, not worse, is that he kind of starts over from scratch and stays down here in extended spring. It looks like he's got a chance to be left here with (minor league medical coordinator) Dave Walker, but I'm hoping something changes here in the next week. He may try it again, I don't know, or we may get back and he's headed for another opinion. Because this is a big year for him. That's when you know there's something wrong."

The young starters really need to step up, but Dylan Bundy turned in his most disappointing start today against the Twins, allowing two home runs and five runs total in only two innings. Minor leaguer Ryan Meisinger is working the third.

Bundy threw 56 pitches, 33 for strikes, and an Orioles starter failed to complete four innings for the third consecutive game.

Chris Dickerson was hit by a pitch in the third inning before Craig Gentry's two-run homer reduced the lead to 5-3. Joey Rickard has replaced Dickerson in center field.

Trey Mancini hit a solo home run off Phil Hughes in the second inning, but Jorge Polanco hit a grand slam off Bundy in the bottom half. Byron Buxton led off the first with a homer, pretty much signaling that this wasn't going to be Bundy's day.