Notes on Jones, Wilson, Kim, O'Day and Bundy (updated)

BOSTON - Adam Jones felt good this afternoon after taking early batting practice and four rounds with the regular group, and there's a good chance he starts Thursday night's series opener against the Rangers.

Manager Buck Showalter already has checked the forecast in Arlington and the temperature is supposed to be 71 degrees at game time.

Jones hasn't started since last Wednesday due to discomfort in his rib area. He's been a defensive replacement in center field the past two games and remains available tonight.

Tyler Wilson is a candidate to start Friday against the Rangers. The Orioles continue to list the spot as TBA, though it's Vance Worley's turn.

Update: Worley has been announced as Friday's starting pitcher.

Wilson hasn't pitched since opening day, but he's healthy. Inactivity comes with being a long man out of the bullpen.

"He's a guy who's capable of pitching long," Showalter said. "He's still a candidate if we wanted to do that in Texas, starting. We're going to keep everybody in the mix. He's been up a couple times. He's throwing on the side. Someone's always going to be in that ...

"But he's a good guy in that situation because he stays ready. He's very athletic. He's got a good delivery that doesn't take a lot of honing, so to speak. He stays within himself. It's not perfect right now. But I kind of like the idea that somebody in our bullpen hasn't pitched lately. It's not always the case."

The announcement on Friday's starter is on hold until Showalter sees how the bullpen is needed tonight.

"I've got a pretty good idea where we're going," he said. "I want to get our starters in a little bit of a routine and let them start pitching every fifth day. The weather and the off-days haven't been very cooperative, but I'd really like to get everybody on a schedule as soon as we can."

Hyun Soo Kim got back in the lineup tonight, and he's going to be challenged by the Green Monster.

"He needs to play," Showalter said. "We're not going to let him sit around too long. I like he gets in and kind of gets a feel for things and goes and plays. But we'll see. If he's going to be a contributor, which we think he can be, he's going to have to do things like this."

Kim, who had two hits Sunday in his major league debut, received the usual crash course in playing left field at Fenway Park. The idea, though, is to avoid crashing into it.

"You mean like the one with (Mark) Trumbo or the one with (Ryan) Flaherty or the one with ..." Showalter said.

"It's like I was outfield coach with the Yankees one year and a ball hit off the ladder and went this way, and Mr. (George) Steinbrenner wanted to know why didn't we ever work on that. How do you work with a ball off the ladder? You don't know which way it's going. Ryan plays it real well. But there is no perfect course. If there was, everybody would do it. It just comes with experience and being around it."

Kim has been getting extra work in left since he arrived in Boston.

"He's been doing it the last two days. Today will be the third day," Showalter said. "And we had that day game Monday, Trumbo was out here early that morning. But there's just so much you can simulate. Right field is tough here, too, especially in day games."

Plenty of fans wondered why Showalter brought Darren O'Day into last night's game with two outs in the ninth and the Orioles leading 9-5. Showalter said the decision was tied to closer Zach Britton and the possibility of having to face David Ortiz one more time.

"I wanted to keep Zach out of the game. That was probably the biggest factor," Showalter said. "I wanted to get (T.J.) McFarland out of there on a good note and if you let him face those three right-handers, you're probably going to bring Ortiz back into play. And I'm trying to keep Zach from coming into that ballgame.

"I really wanted him, if we could help it, not have him pitch last night. I thought it was important. And Darren had a day's rest I figured he could get one of those three guys out and not get Zach in the game to face Ortiz.

"I've been in this place too many times where you assume something and next thing you know you wish you shoulda, woulda, coulda. Mostly it was about trying to keep Zach out of the game. Try not to have those two guys pitch every night."

Dylan Bundy threw two scoreless innings before coming back out and allowing one run. He's adapting to the relief role, warming and recovering in rapid fashion.

"I'm surprised as how quickly we're getting callbacks on him saying he's ready," Showalter said. "The thing I like today is that he was sore in the right places. It was very interesting to me to come in today and see how he felt. That's the first time he's started a third inning. That's something we wanted to get him through before we got through April. He did well.

"I've been really impressed with how he's come in and been in his delivery and not searching for a strike for a long time. I said it before, one of the byproducts of him being hurt for a while is him developing a good changeup. He had a changeup, but he didn't have to use it much. His changeup has been a big pitch for him. His times to the plate have been good. I've been really happy with Dylan so far."