More on Miley, the rotation and roster (O's win 5-1)

An examination yesterday on outfielder Joey Rickard's right thumb didn't reveal anything that should push back the timetable for his return.

Rickard actually may be ahead of schedule after going on the disabled list retroactive to July 21.

"The four-to-six weeks was a pretty loose guideline," he said. "It's pretty average just given that I'm still pretty young and they expect me to heal sooner than later."

The checkup didn't show anything "specific" or "crazy," Rickard said.

"I'm still a couple weeks away and hopefully it will be the sooner end of the four-to-six," he said.

The Orioles were hoping to get Rickard back by September, but they may not have to wait that long.

"It's tough to say," he said. "That's the plan, to get back before then. I think as of right now, I'm on a good pace."

Without Rickard on the roster, the Orioles figure to start Steve Pearce and Nolan Reimold Wednesday night against Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels.

Wade Miley is expected to make his Orioles debut on Thursday. He's under their control through 2018, including a club option.

He's more than just a rental.

"That's a lot better, obviously," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "Wade has proven that he can pitch 200 innings, and if you look in the book, there's a handful of left-handed pitchers that have pitched 200 innings in one year in the big leagues and he's done it a couple of times.

"We needed a left-handed pitcher to complement our rotation, and Wade's a workhorse. He's pitched in the American League effectively. He's got all the qualities to help our club, and not just for this year, for next year. We've liked his skills for a while, going back to the first winter meetings. We tried to acquire him in a trade with Arizona. And he had a terrific year. He was, like, second in Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team and he's had some good years since then. He's got some more good baseball ahead of him and I think there's a good fit here and a good opportunity to help our club.

"It's a good team. We've got a good offense, we've got a good defense and we've got an excellent bullpen."

Manager Buck Showalter indicated that Miley will make his first start on Thursday, keeping him on normal rest. How is the rest of the rotation impacted?

"We haven't gotten that far," Showalter said. "We want to see how everybody feels on their workday. We've got some options there, whether we want to give Chris (Tillman) an extra off-day there, see how he feels.

"We'll probably have a pretty definitive idea after batting practice today. A couple of things we're waiting on."

Showalter downplayed the importance of adding a left-hander to the rotation.

"The left-handed thing is not a big part of the equation. It really isn't," he said. "You're looking for pitchers. I know our infielders and outfielders and catchers will like it, and maybe the media because he works fast. I don't think there's anybody that works faster than him.

"That's why we got him. He throws strikes. He sinks a little bit, coming off some good outings. Been throwing the ball good. He's been a guy that's always taken the ball. I don't really look it at like we needed a left-hander. Dan and I, we're just trying to add people who give us a chance to try and stay engaged in the game and give us a chance to win."

Showalter didn't think Dylan Bundy would be impacted.

"No, not really. No," he said. "The other team impacts how I handle Dylan as we go forward.

"That's why we did it (limited pitches) on the front side, so that we could turn him loose after the break, hopefully. We can give him an extra day or two."

A six-man rotation isn't out of the question. It's just not in play at the moment.

"We're going to take a look at it," Showalter said. "There's that potential, but right now I don't see it. But it could change."

The pitching staff changed from 13 to 12 with Odrisamer Despaigne and Tyler Wilson optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. It was the easiest move, but not a slam dunk.

Showalter admitted that serious consideration was given to sticking with 13 pitchers and a three-man bench, saying the expanded staff has become the norm in August.

"A lot, a lot. We really would have liked to," he said.

"I was with Dan in the afternoon yesterday and there's a lot of stuff that people say they'd never do that at 3:30, all of a sudden they'll do it. There are (ways) we could have stayed at 13, things that we could have stayed at 12. I think we know with the schedule the way it is, it's going to be hard to stay at 12.

"Tyler's done a good job, Despaigne's done some good things for us. We want to get them back down there starting. Tyler's got an 8:20, 8:30 flight to Durham. He's going to start tomorrow night. Despaigne's going to start for them either the next day or the next day. They have to be down 10 days unless we have an injury.

"Tough sending those two guys out. Steve (Pearce) helps us in a lot of areas that we had a need for."

Pearce is part of the four-man bench tonight and will start Wednesday night.

"We'll use him today off the bench," Showalter said. "We'll get our arms around him. He's got a couple of nagging things. He's played like five out of the last seven days. I know he's going to get a little break off the turf. I know he's kind of excited about that."

The Orioles may have to lock him out of the indoor batting cage again to reduce the risk of injury, especially to his wrists. No one outworks Pearce.

"That's why you like him," Showalter said. "He's very respectful where he's come from."

Outfielder Henry Urrutia was added to Double-A Bowie's roster today after clearing waivers and being outrighted.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mychal Givens is the first Orioles reliever with at least eight wins by the end of July since Arthur Rhodes in 1996.

The ceremonial first pitch was delivered by 9-year-old Zion Harvey of Baltimore, the first pediatric patient to have a bilateral hand transplant. He walks on prosthetic legs. There won't be a more inspirational moment tonight.

Adam Jones caught the first pitch, hugged Harvey and posed for photos.

Update: Pedro Alvarez lined his 14th home run of the season into the right field seats leading off the bottom of the fifth to break a scoreless tie.

Dylan Bundy hasn't allowed a hit in five innings for the second consecutive start. He walked Ian Desmond with one out in the fourth, but a strikeout/caught stealing has allowed Bundy to face the minimum number of batters at 61 pitches.

Update II: Adam Jones led off the bottom of the sixth inning with his 21st home run and his second in two games to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead.

Elvis Andrus broke up Bundy's no-hit bid with a two-out single into center field in the sixth. Bundy has allowed one hit, walked one and struck out seven over seven innings. He's thrown 88 pitches, one short of his career high, and he's twice left the mound to standing ovations.

Update III: Alvarez has his second multi-homer game of the season and the 12th of his career. The Orioles lead 3-0 in the seventh and Darvish is done.

Update IV: Matt Wieters greeted Dario Alvarez with his 10th home run, giving the Orioles a 4-0 lead in the seventh. Wieters is the eighth Oriole with double-digits in home runs. He hadn't gone deep since June 25 versus the Rays.

The Orioles have hit back-to-back home runs 11 times this season.

Update V: The Rangers scored once off Brad Brach in the eighth and Darren O'Day struck out Ian Desmond with the bases loaded and the count full to keep the score 4-1.

Update VI: The Orioles defeated the Rangers 5-1 for their second consecutive win after losing five in a row.

Chris Davis had a broken-bat RBI single in the eighth after Hyun Soo Kim was hit by a pitch and Manny Machado singled.

Bundy improved to 4-3 with a 3.05 ERA. O'Day retired all four batters he faced and recorded his third save.

The Orioles are 60-45 and assured of maintaining sole possession of first place in the American League East. They're 38-16 at home.