Can Orioles sustain a six-man bullpen?

The Orioles head into tonight's game in Kansas City maintaining their six-man bullpen, which isn't always going to be fully stocked.

There have been empty spaces of late, which is impacting games and bringing into question how much longer the Orioles can go with their expanded five-man bench.

Manager Buck Showalter indicated to reporters last night that he didn't want to use two relievers and was holding back a third for a save situation. Showalter mentioned in D.C. that he wanted to rest Brad Brach in back-to-back games. The rainout on Thursday provided one day off and last night served the same purpose.

Vidal Nuño worked the eighth inning last night in a tie game and took the loss. If he's the left-hander in that situation, it's safe to assume that Donnie Hart wasn't available.

Darren O'Day apparently would have pitched if the Orioles took the lead. He was the designated closer for a situation that didn't unfold.

Showalter is being extremely careful with O'Day for unspecified reasons.

O'Day has appeared in only four games this month and one since May 6. He hasn't been on the mound since May 8.

Showalter explained on Thursday why O'Day wasn't available for the previous night's game.

"We have conversations, Roger (McDowell) and Alan (Mills), and then we sit down about an hour before the game and go over the bullpen," Showalter said. "Didn't like it, didn't like the feedback we were getting.

"It always starts with our guys. 'I'll pitch, but ...' You talk about it. You have to decide how much the 'but' means."

Showalter chuckled at his use of "but" and how he probably should hit the edit button. As it turned out, the Orioles would have been better served rewinding after the eighth.

With closer Zach Britton down in Sarasota receiving treatment for a strained left forearm, the Orioles are left scrambling to fill needs that arise after the starter has exited the game. Nuño and Alec Asher are supposed to be long relievers backing up the starters - Nuno behind right-handers and Asher behind left-handers - but they're now working the late innings in tight situations.

Asher struck out the side Wednesday night in the eighth inning, but he also surrendered a two-run homer to Michael A. Taylor that left the Orioles clinging to a 6-4 lead that Brach couldn't hold. Nuño warmed in the ninth while Brach labored and was in last night's game with the score tied 2-2 in the eighth.

I don't see how the Orioles can keep six relievers if two or three aren't fully available every night, which seems to be the recent pattern.

Jayson Aquino was going to join the club in Kansas City before Thursday's rainout altered those plans and put him back in Triple-A Norfolk's rotation. He's starting tonight for the Tides. But he probably was going to replace another reliever, not expand the bullpen.

Having an extra player on the bench is a luxury. Showalter has more late-inning options now that didn't exist in his previous seasons as manager in Baltimore. He values the speed and defense that Craig Gentry brings and wants to keep Joey Rickard and Trey Mancini on the major league roster.

Gentry is out of options and the Orioles really want to hold onto him.

Factor in a backup catcher and utility infielder and you've got a five-man bench. And a headache if you finally concede that you must go with seven relievers.

The Orioles already have put 10 pitchers on their shuttle between the majors and Triple-A Norfolk - Nuño, Asher, Aquino, Tyler Wilson, Logan Verrett, Stefan Crichton, Richard Bleier, Gabriel Ynoa, Paul Fry and Mike Wright. Fry and Wright didn't appear in a game before being optioned.

Jimmy Yacabonis isn't on the 40-man roster, but he's on the radar. He hasn't allowed a run with Norfolk in 16 2/3 innings.

The other pending issue involves outfielder Michael Bourn, who's 4-for-16 with a triple at Norfolk. Selecting his contract while also wanting to expand the bullpen requires the removal of two position players. It's all right there in the math.

Does Bourn equal both Kim and Gentry - a left-handed bat with plus speed and defensive skills? Would the Orioles risk losing Gentry to a waiver claim?

So many questions and one certainty. The Orioles will be severely challenged to stick with six relievers.