Gausman progresses to simulated game, assignment at Bowie

Kevin Gausman will pitch a two-inning simulated game Wednesday in Sarasota as he nears a return from the disabled list and his rightful place in the rotation.

Gausman received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder on March 20 and has been engaged in a throwing program, expanding the distance on his throws on flat ground. He received good results from a bullpen session on Sunday and will progress to a sim game Wednesday before leaving Florida and making a start Saturday night at Double-A Bowie.

The Baysox are hosting Akron at 6:35 p.m. as they begin their defense of the Eastern League championship.

Manager Buck Showalter said yesterday that Gausman will make starts in the minors lasting three and five innings before coming off the disabled list on April 19.

The concerns about the Orioles rotation that carried through the winter and spring training and into opening day should be grounded now that it's tied for first in lowest ERA in the majors.

Or is one game too small of a sample size? What about two innings?

Chris Tillman shut out the Twins yesterday before a rain delay lasting one hour and 10 minutes forced Showalter to go to this bullpen, with Tyler Wilson entering in the third and tossing three scoreless innings.

Tillman struck out the last five batters he faced before the tarp came on the field.

"Very frustrating," Tillman said. "I don't like it one bit, but you know what? It happened and both teams had to deal with it. Now you move on."

Starters for the Orioles, Twins, Cubs, Royals, Dodgers, Phillies and Pirates didn't allow an earned run on opening day. Minnesota right-hander Ervin Santana also was victimized by the weather at Camden Yards.

The bar's really been raised for Yovani Gallardo, who takes the mound for the Orioles on Wednesday night. But seriously ...

Did Tillman set the tone for the rotation in his brief appearance?

"It was too short to know," he said. "I'd like to get a little deeper and kind of set the tone a little bit better. But Willy's a part of the rotation and he did an outstanding job of coming in after me. So did the bullpen."

Ubaldo Jimenez is scheduled to start Thursday night's series finale, with Mike Wright starting Friday night against the Rays. Tillman is slated to pitch again on Saturday, though Showalter indicated that the right-hander could return sooner after throwing only 22 pitches yesterday.

We're still waiting to learn the identity of the fifth starter who's needed on Sunday. Wilson and Vance Worley remain candidates.

Worley would have pitched the 10th inning yesterday if Matt Wieters hadn't delivered a walk-off single.