Notes on the rotation, Rickard, Duensing and Jones

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - A light news day this afternoon on the visiting side at Tropicana Field.

Manager Buck Showalter is deciding on his rotation for the Tigers series at Comerica Park. He plans on starting Kevin Gausman in Friday's opener, but hasn't offered confirmation beyond the first game.

"I want to get through here and we'll see how we are tonight," Showalter said. "We know who we're pitching the first day and hopefully Sunday. I'm not sure yet about Saturday.

"I'm trying to get through tonight. Wally (Dave Wallace) was waiting on one work day, but I think we'll have a pretty good idea tomorrow."

Showalter doesn't expect outfielder Joey Rickard to make the drive up to St. Petersburg while the Orioles are in town. Rickard has been cleared for baseball activities after a follow-up exam on his right thumb, but Showalter said the medical staff may be on a short and much-deserved break.

"They've been working since Jan. 15, seven days a week," Showalter said. "Instructional league is getting ready to start. Gulf Coast League is over. I'm hoping (minor league medical coordinator) Dave Walker and his group took two or three days off before they start up again.

"Seven days a week since Jan. 15, so I'm hoping that's what happened. I don't know. Is it important that we see Joey?"

The media was searching for a fresh note.

"I appreciate your honesty," Showalter said. "I can get him over here."

Left-hander Brian Duensing is happy to be back in the bullpen after undergoing elbow surgery in June and rehabbing in Sarasota.

"It's great," he said. "To be honest, it was getting a little long down there in Sarasota. But I threw quite a few times down there and with Bowie and everything's going well. Arm feels normal, so it's good to be back."

Duensing had cartilage chips removed from his elbow.

"I knew I'd be back," he said. "It wasn't really that invasive of a procedure. They were taking some chips out. It wasn't like they were shaving down spurs or anything like that. I knew I'd be back. I thought maybe it took a little bit longer than I'd like, but I guess it's better safe than sorry and don't push it, you know?"

Duensing has been thrust into a pennant race. Exactly where he wants to be during the first week of September.

"Yeah, it's exciting." he said. "Obviously, I was keeping tabs while I was away and it's exciting to be back and in the middle of the race. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling and keep winning some baseball games."

I wrote earlier today that center fielder Adam Jones is the Orioles' nominee for the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award, no surprise given his many charitable endeavors.

"It's pretty cool," he said. "I mean, Roberto Clemente. I don't do this stuff for awards and stuff, I do it to help out kids and try to make an impact where I can make an impact.

"It's good to see a lot of people around baseball help kids in their local communities that support them."

There's been a change in the Rays' lineup for tonight's game. Shortstop Matt Duffy has been scratched.

Nick Franklin moves from right field to shortstop and Steven Souza Jr. will play right.