Showalter on Hardy as "great addition" when activated

The Orioles haven't revealed their starter for Sunday's series finale against the Angels. However, it's likely to be Chris Tillman if he doesn't pitch tonight in relief.

Manager Buck Showalter hinted that it was fair to speculate on Tillman, who hasn't started since Aug. 3 against the Tigers. Tillman came out of the rotation after allowing five earned runs (seven total) in two innings to raise his ERA to 8.10.

Working out of the bullpen for the first time in the majors, Tillman has tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in two appearances. He's allowed two hits, walked none and struck out two.

Showalter is looking for opportunities to push back a few of his starters for extra rest, and inserting Tillman on Sunday would be one method. He also has Thursday's off-day before the team heads to Boston.

Tillman hadn't been told this afternoon whether he was starting against the Angels.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy remains set to go on an injury rehab assignment on Monday or Tuesday. Showalter didn't dismiss the possibility of Hardy coming off the disabled list before Sept. 1, though adding him to an expanded roster seems like the less complicated course.

"I never said Sept. 1," Showalter said. "Who knows? He may be down there four or five days and here we go. Because anytime you can add a J.J. Hardy, you do it if he's ready. It's been a long time down."

Hardy hasn't played since June 18 against the Cardinals. It doesn't figure to be brief assignment. He needs the at-bats.

Showalter hasn't laid out of plan for using Hardy. Tim Beckham is 34-for-71 (.479) with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 12 RBIs in 17 games with the Orioles. He's also handled the shortstop position at an acceptable level.

So where does this leave Hardy?

"As always, I'm going to try to take (advantage) of both their skills and do what's best," Showalter said. "When he gets here, we'll see where we are. I think everybody in that clubhouse, including Tim, is looking forward to getting J.J. back. It's been a long haul without him.

"It's obvious Tim's done real well for us."

Hardy was on the field again today assisting Beckham with his footwork and applying tags. No signs of feeling threatened by Beckham's presence on the roster. Another clear sign that Hardy is the leader of the infield.

"He's done it for Jonathan (Schoop), he's done if for Manny (Machado)," Showalter said.

"I remember Don Mattingly, the first time J.T. Snow was in big league camp (with the Yankees, went out of his way to make his path easier, knowing at that time everybody thought J.T. Snow was the next first baseman before we made the trade for Tino (Martinez). And that was the last spring Donnie played. I told that story to Rafael Palmeiro when we had a guy come into (Rangers) camp named Mark Teixeira. It wasn't quite the same embracement, but they were able to make their path easier.

"J.J. likes doing that, because I guarantee you somewhere along the way, either someone did that for him or someone was just the opposite. And he wanted to make sure if he was ever in that position that it wouldn't happen while he was around. It was one of the two. I guarantee it.

"He was talking about when (Alcides) Escobar came up through the Milwaukee system, he knew that's where they were going to go before they traded Escobar to Kansas City. So it doesn't' surprise anybody. I know J.J., there's a tag play that Tim made last night that I don't think he makes two weeks ago. J.J. sees it and he's always trying to help them. And when players like Jonathan and Tim realize how receptive a guy like J.J. is ...

"J.J.'s got a pure heart. He's got no agenda. He just wants us to be as good as we can be and wants to make a contribution. But it's been a long road for him. He's worked real hard. There's been a lot of work that he and Bobby (Dickerson) have gone through to get back this point where he can go out. So, whenever we get him back, he'll be a great addition."