Pregame notes and Showalter quotes before the opener

Left-hander Brian Matusz is scheduled to pitch at Double-A Bowie on Thursday and the Orioles want to activate him three days later.

Kevin Gausman will throw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. He will make starts covering three and five innings before coming off the disabled list.

Gausman remains targeted to start on April 19.

Infielder Jimmy Paredes is taking dry swings with a fungo bat. That's as far as he's progressed from his left wrist injury.

Manager Buck Showalter said he considered batting Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard second in today's lineup, but didn't want to leave Manny Machado more susceptible to being walked. Rickard also was a consideration for the leadoff spot, and it could happen Wednesday, but he's hitting ninth today.

"There were three of them," Showalter said. "We'll get to all of them, I'm sure, this year. We've got to start somewhere."

Showalter likes the idea of getting Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis as many at-bats as possible.

Rickard figures to move up the order if he continues to hit.

"There's a lot of thought that goes into different things," Showalter said. "There's a process you're trying to get to, how you hope things work out, so you leave yourself as much wiggle room.

"I'd rather promote guys as the season goes on instead of demote them. I know where I'd like to get eventually, but we'll see if that works out. I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves and get ahead of the process. We'll try to keep in mind some reality of what's going on here and not get caught up in the emotion of something, and try to do what's best for your players. And usually that ends up being what's best for your team.

"Think about it. One of the lead questions here is about a guy who was playing winter ball and in Montgomery last year. What are they, the Biscuits? That's what's great about baseball. They next thing you know, he's the first question on opening day. That's cool. So try to keep it in mind, try to be realistic initially."

Rickard was in all three of Showalter's lineups.

"Try to keep everybody in the flow," he said. "There are a lot of different variables of how it affects other people. You're only assured of a guy leading off once."

Machado's two knee surgeries are such a distant memory now, few people seemed to notice yesterday when he slipped while taking a relay throw from left field. His knee bent in an awkward position, which Showalter noted, but he was fine and continued the workout.

It would have been a much bigger deal last year.

"Those were surgeries we didn't know how he was going to respond to," Showalter said. "He's had a lot of challenges he's handled very well."

Showalter was asked about a reasonable next step for Machado after he placed fourth in Most Valuable Player voting in the American League.

"I'd take last year," he replied.

"I think people sometimes don't pay attention to how driven he is. I hear some of the things he says to me privately, most all of them from a team standpoint, but also, he's never satisfied. It's not a competitive thing against some other player from another team. It's about, he drives himself. I don't worry about him reaching his potential. What that is, I'm curious to see what that is, too, and I hope we all have a good seat.

"I've already seen it, where he was when he first got here. He's one of those guys you kind of leave alone in Miami. You can tell how hard he works in the offseason."

Hyun Soo Kim is taking batting practice before heading into the clubhouse and later the bench. There's some curiosity here about how fans will greet him during introductions, after he refused a minor league assignment.

Showalter stressed again that Kim has the full support of teammates and the organization.

"It might be good in a way that he kind of steps back and is able to take it in a little bit from afar," Showalter said. "We all get too close to things. There's some positives about him being able to take it in, but I also realize this is more uncharted waters for him. There's a lot of things happening to him for the first time in his 28 years. He's getting a lot of support from coaches, manager, and most importantly the players. They're all pulling for him. It's a real good vibe around him with his teammates."

The Orioles are 40-22 all-time on opening day and have won 12 of their last 15, including the last five.

Asked for his greatest opening day memory, Showalter replied, "Maybe today. I hope."

For the Twins
Brian Dozier 2B
Joe Mauer 1B
Miguel Sano RF
Trevor Plouffe 3B
Eddie Rosario LF
Byung Ho Park DH
Eduardo Escobar SS
Kurt Suzuki C
Byron Buxton CF

Ervin Santana RHP