Pending roster moves and today's game

With Mike Wright optioned to Triple-A Norfolk last night, the Orioles found a way to create room for Yovani Gallardo on the 25-man roster and hand him the ball for today's game against the Blue Jays.

That's one move.

The Orioles can figure out later who makes Wednesday night's start against the Padres. They need Wright to figure out how to regain his command and position himself for another promotion later in the summer, whether he's in the rotation or the bullpen.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy also comes off the disabled list today. Manager Buck Showalter mentioned how he needs to make sure that he's got an infielder on the bench while Manny Machado serves his suspension, raising more questions about the corresponding move.

Ryan Flaherty or Paul Janish could play third base in Machado's absence, with Hardy back at shortstop, but who's the utility infielder? Pedro Alvarez can play the corners, but he's not backing up in the middle.

Maybe it's not that important with Machado gone for a maximum of four games. The temporary replacement at third can slide over to shortstop or second base if needed. No need to overthink it.

So we're back to the two obvious solutions. Janish is designated for assignment or Flaherty, who doubled and homered last night, is optioned to Norfolk.

We'll find out later today if the Orioles made a third move and brought up a reliever. They have no idea whether Gallardo can give them length in his first major league start since April 22, but Odrisamer Despaigne and Dylan Bundy are available to consume innings

Gallardo has made four starts as an Oriole, going 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA. He's allowed 14 runs and 23 hits in 18 innings, with seven walks and nine strikeouts. But he's surrendered only one home run, so he's got that going for him.

Gallardo also has a healthier and stronger right shoulder. Let's see if it makes a difference today.

Left-handers batted .343 against him in those four games and right-handers hit .297. Lots of room for improvement here.

While Wright keeps getting steamrolled by the Blue Jays, Gallardo is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in three career starts against them, with three runs allowed in 20 1/3 innings.

Jose Bautista is 1-for-14 against Gallardo, but he's on the disabled list. So is Orioles reliever Darren O'Day. This series is no fun.

Edwin Encarnacion is 6-for-18 with three home runs. Keep that in mind each time he steps to the plate today. Darwin Barney is 3-for-25 with seven strikeouts and Justin Smoak is 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.

The Orioles get their second knuckleballer in less than a week. Steven Wright has been replaced by R.A. Dickey, who's 4-7 with a 4.16 ERA in 14 starts.

Dickey faced the Orioles on April 20 and allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He's 2-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 15 career games against them, including 12 starts, and 1-3 with a 3.32 ERA in seven games (six starts) at Camden Yards.

Machado is 7-for-19 with three doubles against Dickey. Janish is 3-for-3.

Adam Jones is 3-for-27 with six strikeouts, Alvarez is 2-for-14, Flaherty is 2-for-11 with a home run and Jonathan Schoop is 1-for-9 with a home run.

Dickey is 0-5 with a 5.36 ERA in seven home games and 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA in seven road games.