Notes on Jones, the rotation, Gonzalez, Harvey and more

WASHINGTON - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Adam Jones' back has improved, though the All-Star center fielder remains out of the lineup.

"He's better, he's better," Showalter said. "That's encouraging. Hopefully, it will continue down that path. He can do some things today that he couldn't do yesterday. That was good to see."

Showalter can't commit to Jones being in the lineup Wednesday night.

"No necessarily. We'll see what 24 hours brings," Showalter said.

Showalter also won't reveal whether Jones is available to pinch-hit tonight, again choosing not to tip off the opposing manager.

"I wouldn't broadcast that," Showalter said. "Maybe. We might get a Kirk Gibson out here. You never know. I know he can run.

"He's not happy that he's not available to start the game. He always wants to play, but he agrees with where we are with it."

The Nationals are starting Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark in the final two games of the series. They initially wanted to insert Jordan Zimmerman.

The postponement last night has caused travel and hotel headaches for the Orioles, who are trying to charter a flight from BWI to Boston following Thursday's rescheduled game. Showalter said he already checked the bus schedule, and the trip would take eight hours.

The Orioles also need to extend their hotel stay in D.C. for an extra night, and they can't get a refund on Wednesday night's hotel reservation in Boston.

"It's not a perfect world. That's for sure," Showalter said.

The alternative was playing a doubleheader today, but the league office allowed the Nationals to schedule a makeup game on Thursday.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to get a plane," Showalter said. "The pitching has changed around a lot. There have been 10 or 15 things. Trying to see if we can keep this hotel for another night instead of having to scatter in different hotels.

"I've got a couple extra bedrooms back in Baltimore. I can take a couple guys. We actually talked about that if we had to move the guys around. I sure hope they have a big crowd Thursday.

"We're fine. We play. When they say play, we play. That's the way it is."

The Orioles' starters in Boston this weekend are Kevin Gausman, Wei-Yin Chen and TBD. Showalter said Miguel Gonzalez isn't a consideration.

Gonzalez remains scheduled to throw a simulated game on Wednesday that's expected to last fewer than five innings.

The Orioles are hoping that Gonzalez will be able to start twice before the regular season ends on Oct. 4, "not counting the playoffs," Showalter said.

Orioles team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs will examine Hunter Harvey's right elbow on Thursday. No appointment has been set with Dr. James Andrews, who's out of the country on vacation.

Harvey was shut down after experiencing discomfort in his elbow in the fall instructional league.