Notes on Jones, Hart, Flaherty, Britton and Harvey (updated)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter will reveal the identity of Friday night's starter following today's batting practice session at Camden Yards.

"We want to make sure that a couple things to well today," Showalter said.

Showalter indicated yesterday that the choice came down to Alec Asher or Ubaldo Jiménez. Asher lasted only two innings Sunday in Houston and gave up six runs. Jiménez relieved him, allowed two runs in the third and retired 16 of the last 18 batters while covering the rest of the game.

Updated: Asher is starting Friday against the Red Sox. Left-hander Wade Miley opens the series on Thursday. Dylan Bundy starts Saturday and Chris Tillman starts Sunday.

Center fielder Adam Jones worked out again today before batting practice to test his left ankle and hip, and he's in the lineup.

"Adam went through the paces," said manager Buck Showalter, "and it looks like he's ready to play."

Left-hander Donnie Hart flew to San Antonio for his grandfather's funeral, but he's expected at Camden Yards for tonight's game.

The Orioles could have placed Hart on the bereavement list, but he would have needed to miss three games.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty still hasn't been cleared to throw in Sarasota after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder.

Closer Zach Britton has picked up the intensity on his flat ground throws in Sarasota.

"He's right on schedule," Showalter said. "He's following the plan and no setbacks."

Showalter won't reveal the targeted return date for Britton. He'd only say it's "in that proximity" when asked whether Britton could return to the active roster before the All-Star break.

"I just don't think it's fair for Zach or the people running the program to say here's some false deadline and if it's not right there, something's been backed up or whatever," Showalter said. "We've got it mapped out daily and the day that he would return to us with a little bit of wiggle at the end where there's a couple days it might be a little earlier and it might be a little later."

Hunter Harvey, who underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in July 2016, threw a bullpen session today in Sarasota.

The Orioles are extremely encouraged by Harvey's progress and believe he may be ready to pitch toward the end of June and certainly by the early part of July.

Director of player development Brian Graham passed along a positive report to Showalter after watching Harvey's session.

"You could tell by Hunter's face how good he felt about it," Showalter said. "First time he really had a chance to kind of turn it loose and get some return for it. He's getting closer."