Wondering what Gausman can bring into this start (O's up 6-2)

There are no splits online to determine how Kevin Gausman has fared after throwing 20 pitches and being ejected for hitting a batter with a curveball. And I searched everywhere for it.

Gausman is working on "normal" rest tonight, if that's the appropriate word for it. He hasn't started since Wednesday night in Boston, when a 77 mph bender smacked Xander Bogaerts on the backside and plate umpire Sam Holbrook reacted as through Gausman planted a 98 mph fastball between the numbers and celebrated it.

Any concerns about Gausman being "too strong" tonight? If so, they're not coming from manager Buck Showalter.

"I don't think so," he said. "Really, this is his normal turn. He had a workday, he had 15-, 20-minute warmup, he had two ups in the game. It's not that much out of his routine. I think anything that you, he or we might kind of move toward might be kind of an excuse, and I don't think he wants that. I don't know about too strong. We'll see.

"On paper, this is probably the best offensive team we've played, and we've played some good ones. I think they're leading everything in offense, and we've played some really good offensive teams, too. Obviously, the Red Sox and some of the other ones. We caught a couple on the downside, but they're operating on a lot of cylinders offensively, so better carry some pretty good stuff."

It's been a challenge for Gausman, who's registered only one quality start and allowed 18 runs over 14 innings in his next three outings before his bizarre cameo at Fenway Park.

We're back to the concern question.

"Not yet, not yet," Showalter said. "I think Kevin feels good physically, as good as he's felt in a while. I think if he stays true to some things, he's going to start getting more results. He's got his work cut out for him tonight. We're going to need some length from him in a perfect world. It's going to be tough to do tonight."

Will the Orioles regret keeping Alec Asher in the bullpen rather than bringing up a fresher arm? Stay tuned.

Catcher Matt Wieters stopped by the Orioles' clubhouse earlier today to visit with Showalter, former teammates and athletic trainers Richie Bancells and Brian Ebel.

"Matt came by today and said hello. Nice of him. I knew he'd be here early," Showalter said.

Wieters should know everything that's coming from Gausman, but the pitchers on this staff and Caleb Joseph, who's behind the plate tonight, also know the veteran catcher.

"Where does the knowledge stop and the ability take over?" Showalter said. "It's like the really good pitchers, everybody knows what CC Sabathia's going to do every time out there. You know what (Max) Scherzer and (Stephen) Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez ... We can tell you, but they can still do it.

"It tells you how good their command is. And if you do certain things, it doesn't matter if you know that it's coming or not. Matt's a good student of the game and so is Gaus and Caleb. There are some things you want to know as long as you know that they know. We're getting real deep here.

"We have made a couple adjustments in some signs."

Michael Bourn is leading off and playing center field tonight for Triple-A Norfolk after joining the team in Louisville. His broken right ring finger is healed and the Orioles are determining whether he might be able to provide another plus-defender with speed in their outfield or on their bench.

Bourn's already shown the Orioles that he's healthy. That's one step.

"We all know what Mike's capable of," Showalter said. "I think it's more about the level of play and getting some at-bats against that level. But it won't take long now. I think it shouldn't be that long, depending what 'long' is. I think you'll have a pretty good idea where he is within the week."

Making room for Bourn would be a challenge. The Orioles already are operating with an expanded bench and have left-handed hitters Seth Smith and Hyun Soo Kim.

"I try not to dwell too much on how that would work," Showalter said. "Somehow, those things have a way of solving themselves. Obviously, if they don't, via an injury or a trade or whatever, deciding not to bring Mike up here. Dan (Duquette) has got that wired. If we get closer and find out, 'OK, it looks like he's ready to contribute to a major league club,' then how can we do it?

"You think about different scenarios, how to do it. Go to a nine-man pitching staff or something. No. There's two parts - the level of play and not necessarily how he's doing, but just ... He's not going to have any trouble with the finger. I don't think that's going to be an issue."

Update: Gonzalez surrendered four home runs in his first six starts before tonight, but the Orioles hit three in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Joey Rickard hit his second career leadoff home run. Mark Trumbo homered with two outs, Chris Davis walked and Trey Mancini hit a 433-foot shot.

Kevin Gausman retired the first 10 batters before Jayson Werth singled with one out in the fourth.

Update II: The Orioles led 6-0 in the fourth after Caleb Joseph's RBI single that scored Jonathan Schoop, who doubled, and Rickard's ground ball to third. Anthony Rendon made a low throw to second attempting to start a double play.

Update III: Michael A. Taylor's two-out double in the fifth scored Rendon and reduced the lead to 6-1. Gausman threw 26 pitches to raise his total to 79.

Update IV: The Nats scored again in the sixth on Jayson Werth's leadoff double, a wild pitch and Bryce Harper's single.