Mike Wright named fourth starter, Tyler Wilson makes the team

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have chosen Mike Wright at their No. 4 starter, giving him the ball on April 8 against the Rays at Camden Yards.

Tyler Wilson also has been told that he made the club. However, manager Buck Showalter hasn't revealed his fifth starter.

Wilson, 26, could be available out of the bullpen for a few games before making the April 10 start against the Rays. Kevin Gausman won't be ready to come off the disabled list. The Orioles are targeting April 19 for his return, a home game against the Blue Jays.

Wright is 2-2 with a 4.79 ERA in six starts, with 23 hits, six walks and 17 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings. In his last outing, he held the Red Sox to one run over five innings in Fort Myers.

"Mike won the job," Showalter said. "Mike pitched well this spring and had a great year last year in Triple-A and it's his time. I don't know how much simpler you can make it."

Wright, 26, will pitch in a minor league game on Saturday before heading to Baltimore. His mandatory off day will be Friday, while the Orioles are in Philadelphia because he wanted to join his teammates for Sunday's workout at Camden Yards.

Wilson is being used out of the bullpen today. He's posted a 2.51 ERA in six appearances (this spring), with 15 hits, no walks and seven strikeouts in 14 1/3.

"We'll see how we use Tyler," Showalter said. "Tyler's made the club. I told him today. That was fun. Now the fun ones go away."

While Showalter hasn't announced the fifth starter, he said, "I've got a strong lean, but it could change and we're going to leave ourselves some ..."

The Orioles continue to check on available players outside the organization, which is delaying when they'll set the roster. It must be done by Sunday at noon.

"Some variable could come into play that changes (the roster)," Showalter said. "I don't want to make where we are right now apparent because it could change, and we all know what's floating around the waiver wire right now. There's a lot of good players that people just couldn't carry. A name comes across it seems like every half-hour that we'd consider.

"It's always tough this time of year. You've got somebody you've been with all spring and you've got a pretty good feel for it, and taking somebody that someone feels like is that much better potentially, that's a tough call. It really is. But we look at all of them as they come across.

"I like the guys we've got. I like where we are."

If Hyun Soo Kim isn't on the team, the need grows for a left-handed hitting outfielder. However, Showalter said it isn't a concern.

"I'm not going to get into him on or off, but I'll talk about us being predominantly right-handed with or without him. No," Showalter said.

I asked Showalter whether today's lineup could be repeated on opening day.

"Probably not," he said. "I'll hold that as long as I can so they don't get asked about it all the time. No, that's not the reason."

Showalter spoke to some of his hitters today about their possible placement in the lineup.

"I just want our guys to understand where we're coming from and get their thoughts on it, how they feel," he said. "Fortunately, we've got some versatility that guys are capable of hitting in a lot of places."