Roster decisions and whether the weather cooperates

The Orioles have a game scheduled for tonight. Mother Nature has more rain scheduled for tonight.

She's probably going to win.

Another rainout would probably leave us with a doubleheader on Thursday. And to answer three of the most popular questions:

1. Your ticket for Wednesday's game isn't going to allow you to also watch the second game unless you don't mind sitting on someone's lap. They also have a ticket for that seat.

2. If you were supposed to receive the giveaway T-shirt on Wednesday, I assume that you'd get it at Thursday's makeup game. Makes sense, right?

3. I don't know the times for a Thursday doubleheader. I'm assuming it would be a straight doubleheader rather than a day-night tilt. But the Orioles will provide that information later if we're rained out tonight.

As for potential news today, the Orioles will activate third baseman Manny Machado if the game isn't postponed, but how do they make room for him on the 25-man roster?

It's fair to assume that infielder Jemile Weeks will be optioned back down to Triple-A Norfolk, but Ryan Flaherty is batting .188/.268/.234 in 20 games. He has the advantage of playing all four infield positions and the outfield. Weeks is a second baseman who also can play the outfield.

How will the Orioles make room for left-hander Troy Patton in a seven-man bullpen when his 25-game suspension ends on Thursday? They could go in a few directions, but it's important to note that Josh Stinson, who's out of options, has allowed nine runs and 16 hits in 11 1/3 innings for a 7.15 ERA in seven games, with six walks, six strikeouts and two hit batters.

The Orioles don't want to lose Stinson, who was sensational over the second half of last season and again in spring training. They know that he's likely to be claimed if they expose him to waivers. They could be faced with an extremely tough decision.

That's the problem with having a bullpen that doesn't offer much flexibility.

Chris Tillman gets the start tonight, weather permitting, and he's never faced the Pirates. He's 0-1 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts at Camden Yards - one earned run and 10 strikeouts in 13 innings.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton has faced the Orioles once, back in 2011 in Pittsburgh, and he allowed seven runs (six earned) and eight hits in two innings.

J.J. Hardy is 3-for-8 against Morton. Delmon Young is 1-for-3 with a home run.

Nick Markakis leads all active players and ranks fourth all-time with a career .336 interleague average. His .390 on-base percentage is 12th among active players.

Put him in the leadoff spot tonight. Or Thursday. Or whenever the weather actually allows the Orioles to play.

Machado batted .337/.358/.511 in 20 games last season against the National League.

Just a reminder that the Orioles are 0-6 at home this season when their opponent scores first. They're 12-5 when they don't commit an error this season and 0-7 when they make at least one.

Down on the farm, Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon hasn't surrendered an earned run over five innings in his last two starts. Yoon has allowed four earned runs over his last 20 innings in four starts.

I don't get the sense that the reports on Yoon are glowing, but they're improving.

"Results have been better, which means he's probably throwing a little better," said manager Buck Showalter. "He struggled first time or two. There was a lot of room for improvement. He knows that.

"Trying to keep in mind where he is. I'm hoping that he starts getting a lot better results as we go forward. I think Ronny (Johnson) said he should have had a shutout outing last time out."