Gabino takes Tillman's spot at Triple-A

While the Orioles have not yet made it official that Chris Tillman will make Saturday's start vs. Toronto, it is, of course, all but official and expected that the right-hander will take the mound Saturday vs. the Jays. For now, the O's will not move a pitcher up from Double-A to take Tillman's spot in the rotation, although that could change. Right-hander Armando Gabino will start on Sunday or Monday for Norfolk, when Tillman's turn next comes up. The Orioles appear to be open to moving Zach Britton at some point to Norfolk, but it doesn't seem likely to happen at least over the next week or so. Britton has allowed just one earned run in 13 innings over his last two Bowie starts and is 4-3, 3.38 on the season. My guess is that Tim Bascom may be the Bowie pitcher that could move to Triple-A first to join that rotation. A 25-year-old right-hander, Bascom was the club's fourth-round pick in 2007 and has, kind of quietly, had a solid year, going 3-3, 3.16 in nine Double-A starts. He has allowed 2 ER or less six times and in 51 1/3 has walked just eight with 32 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Gabino has made one Triple-A start already and gave up just one run over five innings on May 16th. He is 2-0, 1.50 in ten games for the Tides. Over 24 innings, he has allowed eight walks with 25 strikeouts with a batting average against of .181. Here are some other notes around the O's minors: Nolan Reimold is back on the Norfolk roster after a couple of days on the temporary inactive list. In ten games since joining the Tides, Reimold is just 3 for 34 with a homer and 2 RBI. He has just one hit his last 20 at bats. Josh Bell is 9 for 22 with five doubles over his last six games. Brandon Snyder has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games, batting .271-1-11. Troy Patton (2-6, 6.56) pitches for the Tides tonight at Pawtucket. Bowie has won six of its last nine games and plays at Richmond tonight. Joel Guzman now has 11 homers, second best in the Eastern League and has homered in two straight games. Chorye Spoone (2-5, 4.89) pitches for the Baysox tonight. His ERA is 2.65 over his last three starts as he continues his rehab from shoulder surgery. He fanned just eight over his first six starts but has now struck out 13 in his last 17 innings. Frederick is 28-19 and leading its division by seven games with the first half set to end on June 20th. The Keys have not made the playoffs since 2007. Rick Zagone pitched a complete-game, five hitter Wednesday vs. Wilmington. That was the Keys first complete game since Spoone pitched one on September 1, 2007. Since May 9, Joe Mahoney is batting .390 and his average is up to .322 on the year, 8th best in the Carolina League. The Keys lead the league with 53 steals and Kyle Hudson and Xavier Avery have 13 each, tied for second in the league. Ryan Berry makes his second start for Frederick tonight at Lynchburg since his promotion from Delmarva. The Shorebirds (20-28) host Lakewood tonight. The Birds just went 1-3 in their series vs. Hickory, going 6 for 43 with runners in scoring position. Delmarva is now using a six-man rotation that includes Matt Hobgood, Jesse Beal, Kenny Moreland, Bobby Bundy, Luis Noel and tonight's starter, Nate Moreau. Beal is 3-0, 2.48 in five May starts. Brian Conley is second in the Sally League in OBP and 4th in batting average.