Zach Britton on today's bullpen session

Orioles closer Zach Britton threw on flat ground again today, simulating his delivery and far exceeding soft-toss velocity. He headed to the bullpen, attracting a crowd, and threw five pitches off the front of the mound and five on top of it.

It's doubtful that Britton is available tonight while recovering from a sprained left ankle, but he's avoiding the disabled list.

"I guess you wouldn't call it a regular 'pen," Britton said. "Did a little bit of everything. Feels pretty good."

Britton was waiting to speak with manager Buck Showalter. His session was viewed by pitching coach Dave Wallace, bullpen coach Dom Chiti and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells.

"I just told them how I felt and they'll kind of figure something out," Britton said. "Whether tonight or throw another bullpen tomorrow and then see how it feels, maybe be ready then. I'm not sure. I'll leave it up to those guys. I'm just going to tell them I feel pretty good and hopefully feel even better tomorrow."

Britton hasn't shed the discomfort in his ankle and he's anticipating a complete recovery over the course of a long season.

"I guess it's hard to explain," he said. "You hurt your ankle, it's not like something ever goes away. I think that's something for the offseason. It's going to be something we deal with throughout the year. But it's not painful. Just got to kind of stretch it out again and go through the motions a little bit of covering first, pitching off the mound. But it feels pretty good."

The Orioles most definitely need him to perform fielding drills before he's cleared to pitch.

Britton will continue to wear the brace while closing out games.

"Yeah, the goal obviously is to work it to where, or strengthen the ankle to where I don't need a brace, but for now I think just to be on the safe side, just to make sure I don't roll it or anything, wear one for now," he said.

I've got plenty to pass along from Showalter in my next blog entry, including his thoughts on Britton and how the Orioles won't wait to select infielder Paul Janish's contract from Triple-A Norfolk if he's needed here. Janish is going on paternity leave, but it won't stop the Orioles from summoning him as early as Thursday if they want to go back to a four-man bench.

The Orioles are keeping 13 pitches for now while waiting on Britton.

Showalter took exception to a New York Post article suggesting that the Orioles used gamesmanship yesterday while putting the tarp on the field after their batting practice session and preventing the Yankees from hitting outdoors. He isn't sure why this became a story and he most certainly did not appreciate anyone "insulting the integrity" of head groundskeeper Nicole McFadyen.

In case you missed it, the Yankes placed Alex Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

For the Yankees
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Brett Gardner LF
Carlos Beltran DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Starlin Castro 2B
Aaron Hicks RF
Didi Gregorius SS
Chase Headley 3B

CC Sabathia LHP