New Orioles lineup and more notes

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis will serve as the designated hitter today in the new Orioles lineup against the Blue Jays.

Steve Pearce remains at first base and Jimmy Paredes goes to the bench.

Manager Buck Showalter said he didn't want Davis sitting for two straight days, and the veteran isn't going to Lakeland on Thursday. Could the Orioles also be shielding Paredes from the bevy of scouts at Ed Smith Stadium?

Draw your own conclusions.

Scouts already have gotten plenty of looks at Paredes, but it's fun to toss out a theory.

Here's the new lineup:

Manny Machado 3B
Steve Pearce 1B
Adam Jones CF
Delmon Young RF
Chris Davis DH
J.J. Hardy SS
Nolan Reimold LF
Caleb Joseph C
Everth Cabrera 2B

Wei-Yin Chen LHP

David Lough isn't available due to the back spasms that cropped up yesterday morning. Showalter was asked whether Lough needs to get back in the lineup quickly while battling for a roster spot.

"No, we've still got 10-12 days down here. He's fine," Showalter said. "Now, if it turns into seven, eight, nine days, that's a little different. We'll see how the next few days go.

"Basically he bent over to pick up a ball and it spasmed up on him, which usually is an indicator of something else."

J.P. Arencibia is catching again today at Twin Lakes Park and probably will return to the minor league complex on Thursday.

Matt Wieters worked out with the other catchers on the Ed Smith Stadium field before batting practice.

"I was talking to Matt today. Good place with him, where he needs to be and he's progressing," Showalter said. "Probably not going to DH him. He was talking about DHing some here, but not in the near future. I want that (elbow) to completely quiet down."

Wieters will be available to come off the disabled list on April 11, though his return might not come until later in the month.

"There's some advantage if you DL him to wait as long as possible because he allows you to have somebody you can bring back without staying down the 10 days," Showalter said. "So, if and when we DL him, it would probably be later rather than early."