Thoughts on injuries, the roster and today's game

BOSTON - If defense up the middle is so important, how are the Orioles maintaining such a sunny disposition right now?

Catcher Matt Wieters, shortstop J.J. Hardy and second baseman Jonathan Schoop are on the disabled list and we're only two weeks into the season. Wieters and Hardy still haven't played in a game. Schoop might not return until the second half if he can avoid surgery.

The Everth Cabrera signing looks better every day.

Cabrera is a quality shortstop who also can play second. Ryan Flaherty is an above-average fielder at second who can move around the infield and not hurt the Orioles at any position. Caleb Joseph stuck in the majors last season because of his plus defense behind the plate.

The Orioles aren't thrilled that three key contributors are shelved, but they're not slipping into panic mode.

I can't stop thinking about how much the media obsessed over Manny Machado's return from a second knee surgery and whether he'd be ready for spring training and opening day. He's in the lineup every day. Hardy and Schoop are missing from it.

Smart move by executive vice president Dan Duquette to load up on the infield depth by signing Paul Janish, Jayson Nix and Ozzie Martinez to minor league deals, and Rey Navarro to a major league contract.

Navarro is on Triple-A Norfolk's disabled list with a groin injury. Otherwise, he would have received serious consideration as Schoop's replacement.

Navarro is better with the glove than Jimmy Paredes. However, Paredes has been swinging a hot bat since he reported to camp.

The roster crunch decisions are made easier with all these injuries. Hardy's placement on the DL allowed the Orioles to keep Cabrera, Schoop and Flaherty rather than optioning one of them. Paredes figured to stay on his rehab assignment for most or all of the 20 days, but he's in Boston because of Schoop's knee injury.

Can someone rescue Nolan Reimold?

The Orioles will miss Schoop's arm at second base and his power at the plate. They began yesterday tied with the Yankees for the major league lead with 16 home runs, but they're already trying to make up for the 40 lost when Nelson Cruz departed as a free agent. Schoop hit 16 as a rookie.

They may need another 53 from Chris Davis, who's hit two in the first 11 games.

As for today's pitching matchup, Miguel Gonzalez is 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in eight games (six starts) against the Red Sox and 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 5 games (three starts) at Fenway Park. Rick Porcello is 3-5 with a 4.28 ERA in nine starts vs. the Orioles.

Gonzalez was slotted behind Wei-Yin Chen to start the season, but they've been flip-flopped in the rotation.

"Some of it was matchups, some of it was a little extra rest," said manager Buck Showalter. "We took it all the way through the off-day and both guys have responded that way through their careers. It just kind of fits a little better for us. Just trying to put them against the guys that make the most sense for us and them."

The current Red Sox are 13-for-59 against Gonzalez. Daniel Nava is 5-for-15 (.333) with a double and Mookie Betts is 2-for-5 (.400) with a home run.

Delmon Young is 8-for-24 (.333) with two doubles and a home run against Porcello. Machado is 3-for-10 (.300). Steve Clevenger is 4-for-5 with two doubles, but he's down at Norfolk.

Alejandro De Aza is 7-for-34 (.206), Adam Jones is 4-for-24 (.167) with six strikeouts and Travis Snider is 1-for-10 (.100).

Left-handers hit .297 against Porcello in his career. Right-handers hit .263.

I'll let you debate whether Davis, with 18 strikeouts in 39 at-bats, should sit today. He's 5-for-18 (.278) with three home runs, seven RBIs and five strikeouts against Porcello.