After three rehab starts, Kevin Gausman awaits season debut (updated)

KANSAS CITY - Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman has made three injury rehab starts, one each with Single-A Frederick, Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.

After his most recent outing for Norfolk on Wednesday, it appears his next start could come for the Orioles on Monday or Tuesday on the road against Tampa Bay. But in the Orioles clubhouse earlier here this afternoon, Gausman said he still had not been told whether he will start against the Rays yet.

Update: Manager Buck Showalter announced during his pregame media sesssion that Tyler Wilson will start here tomorrow night and that Gausman will indeed start Monday against Tampa Bay. Vance Worley is, for now, in the bullpen. Brian Matusz is still expected to be activated off the DL tomorrow.

He did say he continues to feel physically fine. Gausman has been on the disabled list due to shoulder tendinitis. But he said he crossed a mental hurdle during that most recent start.

"Little bit," he said. "Last time out in Charlotte was the first time I was really letting it go with confidence that there was nothing wrong and that I was going to be fine.

"Mentally, I think anytime you get hurt, the first time you really have to get past that threshold of feeling like, 'OK, I'm going to let this one go.' Once you get past that, you should be all right."

Gausman went 5 2/3 innings in that outing with the Tides, allowing four hits and three runs with two walks and nine strikeouts. He is 0-0 with a 3.27 ERA over his three rehab outings. He went two innings April 10 for Bowie and 3 1/3 innings on April 15 for Frederick.

What got him past that mental hurdle with Norfolk?

"I think I just knew that physically I felt great," he said. "Ball was coming out really well. The other times, I just didn't know how I was going to be when I took the mound. So warming up, it was really, 'OK do I need to throw more or throw less?' In Charlotte the other night, just felt comfortable with whatever I was doing. Felt good and the ball was coming out good. That more than anything.

"I think the biggest thing was just getting up and down five times. That is what you try to get to in spring training - getting down and getting up five times. After you do that, I think you are ready after that. So I think I was ready before, but now I'm just feel that much more ready."