Chris Tillman's next start pushed back to Friday

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

August 02, 2015, 8:10am

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Tyler Wilson is on the taxi squad today and is expected to start Monday night in the series opener in Oakland.

Wilson was in the clubhouse this morning.

The Orioles will need to create a spot on the 25-man roster. They can option reliever Jorge Rondon, who was recalled yesterday after Mike Wright went on the disabled list.

Chris Tillman, whose turn falls on Monday, said his sprained left ankle continues to feel better. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and would start Friday in Anaheim if the ankle doesn't swell up.

"It's getting a little better each day," said manager Buck Showalter.

Wilson is 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in five games with the Orioles, including one start on May 28. He gave up two runs over six innings in Game 1 of the Orioles' doubleheader against the White Sox. He's 5-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-Norfolk.

Steve Pearce flew to Sarasota today to continue rehabbing his strained left oblique muscle. Showalter was hoping that Pearce would start baseball activities this week, but now concedes that was an optimistic timetable.

Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia's 30-day injury rehab assignment ends this week. The Orioles are off Thursday and could fly him to Anaheim if they intend to keep him.

Garcia needs to stay on the active roster the rest of the season to lose his Rule 5 status in 2016. Rosters expand in September, making it easier to carry him, so the Orioles just need to make it through the last three weeks of August.