News and notes

Michael Gonzalez will pitch out of the bullpen tonight at short-season Single-A Aberdeen. Gonzalez has been working the first inning on his injury rehab assignment, but the Orioles want him to get more accustomed to his normal role. Gonzalez probably will take tomorrow off and pitch again on Thursday. It's not known when the Orioles will activate him. Gonzalez gave up a two-run homer in his last outing against Brooklyn, but interim manager Juan Samuel noted that the unfortunate pitch was a slider, not a fastball. "I really don't read a whole lot into that," Samuel said. Don't look for Gonzalez to be the closer his first day back with the Orioles. He'll be eased into that role, according to Samuel. The club will re-evaluate Felix Pie after tomorrow night's game at Double-A Bowie. He could be activated on Friday, when the Orioles begin a three-city road trip in Boston. Samuel isn't sure whether the Orioles will remove a pitcher or position player to make room for Pie. I've assumed that a reliever would be summoned into the manager's office, since the Orioles are going with 13 pitchers. Pie will bat leadoff once he returns, which bumps Corey Patterson from that slot. This is a normal off-day for catcher Matt Wieters. Samuel wanted to give him two straight days of rest and decided to play him Sunday and sit him tonight.