More thoughts on the bullpen and roster

The Orioles broke camp with two Rule 5 picks in their bullpen. Nestor Cortes Jr. and Pedro Araujo are gone, the latter still in the organization but on the disabled list. The dip in experience now comes from rookies Ryan Meisinger and Paul Fry, who made their major league debuts on the same night.

Miguel Castro has appeared in 110 games with three teams, but he's only 23 and striving to gain consistency and a better relationship with the strike zone. Tanner Scott has appeared in only 23 games over two seasons and he turns 24 later this month.

Darren O'Day and Richard Bleier won't pitch again this season. Zach Britton and Brad Brach could be gone by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The deconstruction of the group, routinely a strength of the team and heavily burdened in past years to cover for a shaky rotation, moved at an accelerated pace.

"You definitely think about it," Britton said. "With the guys down there, a lot of new faces among the younger guys, but you also kind of see that's, like, the future. We were here for a long time and now the turnover is starting to happen and unfortunately with some of the injuries with Darren and Bleier, who are probably going to be out for the rest of the year, that hurts. It's a kick in the gut.

"So, for me and Brad, we sit there and talk about it. We're the last two guys kind of from those bullpens. But at the same time we're focused on getting back to the level that we want to get too, too. It's been kind of a roller coaster ride and it's been unfortunate, but just based on how the year's gone for everybody."

A reliever will come off the 25-man roster when the Orioles get back to a five-man rotation. Dylan Bundy is expected to come off the disabled list to make Friday night's start in Minnesota. The starter for Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia is listed as TBD.

Meisinger or Fry could be headed back to Triple-A Norfolk, depending on how many left-handers are needed in the bullpen.

Utility infielder Steve Wilkerson could be headed to the disabled list with an oblique injury. Manager Buck Showalter said the rookie had "symptoms" of it, which led to his removal from Sunday afternoon's game.

The Orioles could select Corban Joseph's contract from Double-A Bowie, but another move would be necessary to make room on the 40-man roster.

To put left-hander Chris Lee or infielder Engelb Vielma on the 60-day disabled list, the Orioles first would have to recall them and there are salary considerations. I don't know whether the club would make the bold move of transferring Chris Tillman to the 60-day after he's made three rehab starts.

Bringing up another utility infielder isn't the automatic response to losing Wilkerson. The Orioles already are carrying Jace Peterson, and Danny Valencia can play the infield and outfield corners. And the bench gets an extra reserve in Philadelphia with no designated hitter.

Alex Cobb is 0-for-4 in two games this season and 1-for-21 in his career. Hitting isn't really his thing, but he's got to do it again tonight.

Bundy sprained an ankle running the bases. Maybe it's better to take three pitches and head back to the dugout.

Cobb's only hit is a double off the Cardinals' Lance Lynn on July 23, 2014 that scored Yunel Escobar. A hit and an RBI.

I find the matchup interesting, and I'm probably the only one, because the Orioles pursued both pitchers in free agency over the winter and in spring training. They both signed late and have been in scramble mode to rediscover their previous form.

Cobb has never faced the Phillies. Carlos Santana is the only current player on the roster who's faced him, going 4-for-15 with two doubles.

Right-hander Zach Eflin went 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA and 0.978 WHIP in five starts in June. He allowed six runs in 30 2/3 innings.

Eflin's never faced the Orioles. Peterson is 3-for-10 and Valencia is 1-for-3.