O's pregame notes on returning WBC players and more

FORT MYERS, Fla. - A few notes from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with reporters before tonight's game with the Twins at CenturyLink Field.

* A couple of the club's returning World Baseball Classic players - Manny Machado and Welington Castillo - are expected to play for the Orioles at home tomorrow night in Sarasota. Adam Jones and Jonathan Schoop will likely not play yet tomorrow. The returning WBC players will probably play in home games only during the rest of the spring schedule. That could mean Jones and Schoop do not play until Monday, with the Orioles playing in Dunedin on Sunday versus Toronto.

"I think they are all going to play about the same (amount in games remaining)," Showalter said. "We kept up with their plate appearances (from the WBC) the whole time and we added them to what we had. With the exception of one guy, they are ahead of last year. So it will probably be in the home games. They're ready. Our guys are close. You go through that competition."

* Showalter confirmed that both Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman pitched at Twin Lakes Park today in minor league games. Castillo caught both pitchers and batted five times. Mychal Givens also threw an inning at minor league camp.

The Orioles provided this pitching line for Gausman from the Triple-A game: 5 1/3 innings, nine hits, three earned runs, one walk. He threw 93 pitches, 63 for strikes. The club announced this line for Bundy from the Double-A game: 4 2/3 innings, seven hits, four earned runs, four strikeouts and one homer allowed. Bundy threw 69 pitches.

* Outfielder Seth Smith will return to the Orioles lineup tomorrow against the Twins at home. Smith, out with a sore right hamstring since March 8, has batted just 11 times in spring games, with one hit - a homer during that March 8 game against Toronto.

Smith may also get into some minor league games to catch up on missed at-bats, Showalter said.

"Probably," Showalter said. "Let's see how tomorrow goes first."

* Chris Tillman, as previously announced, will resume throwing on Sunday and is expected to make some tosses from 60 and 90 feet.

Showalter used one of his favorite expressions today in offering encouragement about Tillman.

"Tillman's got a good face going right now," he said. "He didn't have it before. Feeling pretty good about where he is. I'm expecting a good start on Sunday to his finding his way back to us."

* Lefty Wade Miley threw a bullpen session yesterday. He had been scratched from his start Monday against Boston because of flu symptoms. Showalter still feels Miley should be OK to be a part of the season-opening rotation despite the fact that he's thrown just nine innings in Grapefruit League games.

"First 15 (pitches), he threw pretty good," Showalter said. "Got a little winded with the second group. Probably throw him again on the side (in a bullpen session) before we get him back in a game."

* The Orioles may make more cuts on Saturday. They currently have 42 players on the roster of which nine are non-roster invitees.

* Showalter said he expected to see Marcus Stroman and J.A. Happ start the first two games of the year for Toronto against the Orioles. The Orioles have not announced any of their pitchers yet, but if Gausman is not the opening day starter, it will be a shocker.