Pregame notes and quotes before series finale

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters, on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow, began a throwing progression a week ago and was back on the field today before batting practice.

Wieters classified it as "light tossing."

"Just kind of trying to get it going again and get a normal throwing progression and kind of pick back up," Wieters said. "When it feels good enough at a certain step, we'll move back to the next step and go from there.

"It'll be just move back to a further distance and go there to whenever it feels good enough to get into games, and then we'll get into games."

Wieters is throwing every other day.

"We're trying to get that recovery day in between where everything can kind of calm down," he said.

Wieters isn't unleashing throws during these sessions. It's still too soon to go at maximum effort.

"That's the hard thing," he said. "It's just got to continue to progress and when I feel good enough to get in games. I think for a while there we were shooting for opening day. When I didn't make that, it was just go on how the elbow feels and what it tells me it's ready to do.

"The intensity is pretty close there. It's just the distance that we're going to have get to where everything feels very good before we move to the next step. So, the intensity is pretty good, but it's just a matter of being able to have the intensity before we move further back."

Coming off the disabled list on May 1 is a realistic goal, but Wieters added, "We're not really putting any kind of date out there, because it's a matter of how it goes and how it feels.

"I think it can turn the corner in the course of a couple of days or it can take longer. It's a matter of letting it kind of all play out and whenever I feel like I can contribute to the team and help the team, then I'll come back.

"It's a matter of getting throwing functionality back to it. After surgery, it's a matter of sort of have all the muscles and all the tendons getting back used to throw functionally."

I wouldn't say Wieters is any more or less encouraged than when he was shut down in Sarasota.

"It'll get there," he said. "Everybody's bodies are different. We've got to listen to it at this point.

Rather than accompany the team to Baltimore, Wieters will return to Sarasota following tonight's game and continue his throwing progression. He won't be able to attend opening day, which hurts a lot more than the elbow.

"I'm going to stay down here because I think that will probably be the quickest way to get my rehab in and let these guys go up there and do their business and focus on winning games," he said.

"Opening day is special, especially in Camden with the Baltimore Orioles fans. It will be tough not being there, but at the same time, whatever is going to get me back quickest is where I want to be."

Manager Buck Showalter said Wieters' progression is going well and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells is "upbeat about it."

Shortstop J.J. Hardy said he was going to rest today and take dry swings on Thursday at Camden Yards.

"Richie and them decided to wait one more day and do that tomorrow," Showalter said. "They've got one little test that they don't feel 100 percent on. Richie and them said after talking today to wait one more day, because once you start that dry swinging, I'm not saying you can't turn back but you're kind of going in that direction, so they're going to wait one more day on that.

"The swing hurdle is the last one we're going to have to cross. Once he does that for a couple days and he feels good with that, then he can move pretty fast."

Outfielder David Lough (hamstring) received four at-bats today in an intrasquad game in Sarasota and will play nine innings on Thursday. He won't be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible on Saturday because the Orioles want to send him on an injury rehab assignment by the beginning of next week "if everything progresses well," Showalter said.

"It's kind of temperamental. Some days are better than others."

Lough's had "a couple good days," Showalter added. "He was going to go up to Frederick, but because the weather report may not be good, he's going to stay. When he's able to play nine innings and the weather is right, he'll go play in some minor league games."

The Orioles sent Bud Norris and Ubaldo Jimenez to Baltimore today ahead of the team. Norris is starting Friday's home opener and Jimenez is starting Saturday.

"Guys have been gone two or three months," Showalter said. "A lot of cases a lot longer than that. Just to get settled into apartments.

"I don't think people realize sometimes the adjustments these guys have to make. You walk into a new city, some people have never been in it. Trying to get settled. You've got family. It's a challenge. I think every time you can eliminate some of that for a player, it makes the transition a lot easier. That's why it's good to have tomorrow. The workout won't be much at all. Just let everybody get acclimated in the locker room and kind of get comfortable, I hope."

It's clear that Showalter doesn't want to stay with a three-man bench much longer. He'd like another position player added to the roster, but the Orioles would need to remove a pitcher. They continue to discuss trade possibilities involving left-handers Brian Matusz and Wesley Wright, along with Ryan Webb, who was designated for assignment on Monday.

"Sooner the better," Showalter said of returning to a four-man bench. "It's tough. Like last night, we got an injury in the last inning, we got a problem."

Showalter would prefer to rest closer Zach Britton tonight after the closer has been used in the first two games, throwing 23 pitches last night while striking out the side.

"I've got people I won't pitch tonight," Showalter said. "You can probably figure out who they are."

Matusz, Wright and Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia haven't been used in this series. Matusz has warmed up in both games.

Infielder Ryan Flaherty has started all three games, twice at shortstop and once at second base.

"He's played well defensively," Showalter said. "A good option for us. Try to get some guys at-bats, knowing when J.J. gets back that will go away. He's a good option for us at a number of positions."

Flaherty has been working with hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh. He homered in the first game.

"What Scott and he are doing right now, pretty interesting to me," Showalter said. "He's in a good spot. Ryan at the very worst has always been able to defend himself. We couldn't have even thought about going with three guys on the bench if we didn't have a player as versatile as Ryan. And really, Cabrera."