Tillman update and whether Orioles stay in-house (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will meet again on Wednesday to discuss the condition of Chris Tillman's right shoulder and whether he might make another attempt at a bullpen session.

"Chris feels better today. That's encouraging," said manager Buck Showalter, delivering the news without prompting from the media.

"Yesterday it was better than the day before and today he said it was better than yesterday. Will talk with Richie (Bancells) and the doctors and see if we want to throw again or what they want to do. It's going to be a conversation at the end of the day, decide what we want to do tomorrow. I'm hoping he might get back on the mound again, but we'll see."

Showalter trusts that Tillman is being forthcoming with the condition of his shoulder.

"Not concerned at all about the honesty thing," Showalter said. "He's very frank about it. When he made us aware of it in the offseason, you know what's at stake for our team where Chris is concerned and for Chris' career and where he is in it, so when he brings something up, you need to pay some attention to it.

"He's a tough post-up guy. Just about every pitcher pitches through things over the course of a season, but I think Chris was hoping they could take care of this in the spring so ... It might get delayed, but I think eventually he'll be pitching for us."

Showalter is more comfortable this spring with the in-house choices, the candidates including Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson, Gabriel Ynoa - who starts Friday against the Pirates - Jayson Aquino and Chris Lee.

"One of the big changes where we are this year compared to last year is our depth, especially the position players," he said. "We've got I think five guys we're considering taking Chris' spot. That's provided the other four guys stay healthy. We've got some options.

"I'm not spending much time looking at options outside the organization. That's for Dan (Duquette) and his group. We're staying focused here and I'm confident that he'll pitch. We have some people who can ... You might the old proverbial orchid while searching for a rose."

I asked Duquette this morning whether he's in the market for another pitcher. Available starters include Doug Fister, Edwin Jackson and Colby Lewis.

The first inclination is to stay in-house if possible.

"We've been encouraged by how some of these guys have thrown, some of these young guys, so we'll probably look there first," he said.

Duquette said the free agents are "all options, they're all possibilities," but the club must examine its specific needs and the price.

The clock is ticking against bringing in an outsider. Opening day is on April 3 and a fifth starter is needed April 15. It will be a process to get a pitcher ready.

"We're kind of bumping our head against the start of the season," Duquette said.

More injury updates from Showalter:

On Ryan Flaherty's shoulder: "Keeps having this nagging achy shoulder, probably a little overuse. We're going to shut him down for two or three days. He got injected yesterday, tried to clear that up. He'll be down for two or three days.

"He wanted to keep playing, but just trying not to let that turn into something. Can't remember the last time we had an old fashioned sore arm."

On Caleb Joseph's elbow: "We did not have him playing, and then Richie said he was pretty good today and could play if he had to. We decided to give him a day. He's still pretty sore in there."

On Chris Dickerson's elbow: "Chris is a lot better today. I think Chris is going to be an option for us. He took a pretty good shot there, compressed the nerve. He's ready."

On Seth Smith's hamstring: "Better, better. I think he's around the corner, but we're not in any hurry there."

Showalter said he contemplated giving Hyun Soo Kim a start today against Rays left-hander Blake Snell, but he wants to take a look at Joey Rickard, Craig Gentry and Trey Mancini - three players trying to make the club.

"I think Kim is leading our team in plate appearances right now, so he's seen a bunch of them (lefties) out of the bullpen," Showalter said. "He's got plenty of at-bats. I actually want to give him a day. We've been running him out there a lot. I'm more interested in getting a look at Mancini and Gentry and Rickard."

The list of players brought here from minor league camp includes infielder Garabez Rosa, who's been sidelined with a hand injury. Infielder Sean Coyle, outfielder Cedric Mullins and pitchers Brian Moran, Luis Gonzalez, Cody Satterwhite and Michael Zouzalik also came over from Twin Lakes Park.

Update: The Rays strung together four straight two-out singles off Wade Miley in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Miley walked the leadoff hitter before J.J. Hardy ranged far to his left to start a 6-4-3 double play.

Trey Mancini let Corey Dickerson's single get past him for an error, and the next three batters singled, with Steven Souza Jr. and Curt Casali getting RBIs.

Miley threw 23 pitches, 13 for strikes.