Notes on Tillman, roster move, lineup and more (updated)

WASHINGTON - Chris Tillman most likely will throw off flat ground on Tuesday in one of the most anticipated games of catch in recent years.

Tillman will be testing his right shoulder for the first time since going on the disabled list.

Manager Buck Showalter said the throwing session could be held on Monday, but the following day seemed to be the greater possibility.

"We've got an idea of when he might start for us again if everything went well, but I'm not going to go out there," Showalter said. "I will tell you probably Tuesday he's going to play catch on flat ground."

Tillman is eligible to return on Sept. 5.

Nothing new with reliever Darren O'Day besides Showalter still expecting him to continue to "move forward."

As usual, Showalter was asked the reasons behind the latest call-up, in this case reliever Logan Ondrusek.

"Other than who?" Showalter said, supplying a familiar answer.

"We had about three options," Showalter said, the list including left-hander T.J. McFarland, who remains with Double-A Bowie on a rehab assignment.

"Mac's pitching tonight, one inning," Showalter said. "He's supposed to pitch back-to-back nights, but he'd be available after tonight if we needed him. Just trying to keep everything in play. (Ondrusek) was our best option, we felt like."

McFarland allowed five runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings in two games at Single-A Frederick. He's pitched once for Bowie and allowed three runs (one earned) and four hits in two innings.

Do results matter?

"The first two times it did," Showalter replied. "The last time he had really good stuff and pitched well and the results weren't very good. Made an error, a couple balls should have been caught. But I'm hoping he has a good, clean inning tonight."

Ondrusek's stay also could be brief depending on whether he's needed tonight and for how many pitches.

"That's not the easiest atmosphere to pitch in," Showalter said. "There's always that possibility. We're going to stay on firm ground as far as health as much as we can.

"Sometimes, unfortunately, a guy can come in and pitch real well and have a long outing. That's why everything guys do up here affect not only themselves, but their teammates."

Tonight's lineup against Max Scherzer includes Steve Pearce in left field instead of Hyun Soo Kim. Pearce is 3-for-9 with a home run against Scherzer, but last year's Cy Young Award winner is holding right-handed hitters to a .161 average.

"Trying to keep Steve playing some," Showalter said. "We're keeping him active because we're going to need him. There's no such thing as a good matchup against Scherzer. You kind of pick your poison.

"There's a lot of thought. It starts last night after the game. John (Russell) and I always, talking to coaches, we put down a preliminary (lineup), sleep on it, we start again about 1 o'clock and work through it.

"There's a lot of factors. Stevie's seen him before. You're trying to move around the people that you would double-switch with so you don't have them too close together. We almost got caught last night with Mychal (Givens). I felt at the very worst it would be two outs and nobody on.

"Sometimes, the best moves you make in the National League are the ones you don't make. Sometimes, you just have to wear it and let a pitcher hit every once in a while to allow yourself to win the last three innings."

Showalter's already was debating which game to start Francisco Pena behind the plate and rest Matt Wieters.

"Was it today, was it tomorrow," he said. "We're going to see how tonight goes. I know we've got an idea for the next series how he's going to go."

Showalter met with his coaches today to discuss their September call-ups, which haven't been revealed to the media. There are obvious candidates such as catcher Caleb Joseph and outfielder Joey Rickard, who remains on the disabled list and will have his thumb re-examined on Sept. 2.

Left-hander Brian Duensing, also on the disabled list, will join the bullpen.

The Orioles will have players working out in Sarasota, sort of a taxi squad, before the fall instructional league begins in mid-September. Showalter wants them to stay ready in case they're needed later in the month.

Update: Jayson Werth homered on Ubaldo Jimenez's first pitch of the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.

Max Scherzer retired the first nine Orioles, with six strikeouts, before Adam Jones led off the top of the fourth with a double. He was stranded at third base.