Beckham update, roster talk, Davis leading off and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tim Beckham's groin injury is improving, but he won't play Sunday in Clearwater and most likely will be held out of Monday's game in Norfolk, where the forecast is forcing the Orioles into taking a more cautious approach.

Beckham left Thursday's game after two innings, tweaking the groin while stretching in the weight room and again while fielding a ground ball. Manager Buck Showalter thinks Beckham can avoid the disabled list, but he isn't dismissing the possibility.

Showalter said head athletic trainer Brian Ebel was "real upbeat" about Beckham's improvement.

"Unless the weather drastically changes, I'm not going to play him in that cold weather in Norfolk," Showalter said. "We'll make a final decision on him at the workout on Wednesday, whether to make him active or not. Right now, the plans are that he should be OK, but we'll see how Wednesday goes."

After suggesting yesterday that Beckham would need to play again before opening day, Showalter said this afternoon that another game won't be necessary.

"No, he's fine. He's ready to go," Showalter said. "Brian was talking this morning about taking him with us and continuing to treat and keeping him with us."

Luis Sardiñas is starting at shortstop today and could linger on the camp roster while Beckham's status remains uncertain. Manny Machado is serving as the designated hitter after fouling two balls off his foot yesterday on consecutive swings.

No roster decisions were announced during batting practice. Showalter didn't confirm cuts or the inclusion of any players on the opening day roster.

"There's still some things moving around," he said. "We're going to bring some clarity to the players starting today. Obviously, we've got to play a game tomorrow, so I've got to have nine people. We know a nice fine is coming tomorrow, but the way we set up this schedule was to play these (starters) three days in a row and give most of them tomorrow off, but we'll see how it goes.

"I could tell you what I think we're going to do, but it involves a lot of different moving parts. I know Dan (Duquette) is still beating around a few things upstairs. That time of the year where all the teams are having to kind of show their hands. Keep in mind that we don't have to turn in the roster until noon on opening day. I hope it doesn't take that long, but there's that possibility."

Some players have learned their fates through their agents after having conversations with Duquette. Opt-out dates have arrived today.

Showalter is hesitant to offer any assurances while more players become available via the waiver wire or in potential trades. Outsiders have a way of infiltrating camps in the final days of spring training.

"You're careful about this time of year making promises and all this," Showalter said, "and all of a sudden 12 hours later there's a whole different scenario."

Alex Cobb will be in Baltimore for opening day and participate in the introductions. He's still scheduled to throw three innings Sunday in a simulated game at Ed Smith Stadium.

"He'll be there, he'll be announced," Showalter said.

Reliever Darren O'Day also will pitch in Sunday's sim game. Andrew Cashner is starting Monday in Norfolk.

Chris Davis is leading off again tonight to get more at-bats after being sidelined with tightness in his right elbow/forearm, but he's also a consideration for the role during the regular season.

"There's that potential, and to get him the at-bats as much as possible, but there's that potential," Showalter said. "It's something we've been looking at since last year."

Asked whether Davis was "OK" with it, Showalter replied, "That's a nice way of putting it."

"I think more than that," he said. "You try to think about everything, but it's something that Chris kind of brought up as much as I did to him as something ... We'll see how it goes. Everything is subject to change. We haven't totally committed to it, but it's something we're thinking about."

No one on the roster is a prototypical leadoff hitter. Davis has high strikeout totals and he's posted averages of .221 and .215 the past two seasons, but he routinely leads the club in walks and registered on-base percentages of .370 in 2013 and .361 in 2015.

Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. gets one more chance to impress with Sunday's start against the Phillies.

"It doesn't mean you throw out the whole body of work," Showalter said, "but you always want to see guys finish strong. You could ask the same question with (Chris) Tillman, but I know we're making in some people's minds a decision yet on Cortes. If we had to pick right now we would, but you still take in every look that you get and you've got until Thursday at noon."

Cortes pitched in relief Wednesday night in Tampa and allowed three runs and four hits in four innings. He's sporting a 5.02 ERA in 14 1/3 innings.