Rotation order, Showalter on Bundy and Beckham

SARASOTA, Fla. - Andrew Cashner and Kevin Gausman will follow opening day starter Dylan Bundy for the Twins series at Camden Yards that begins on March 29. Chris Tillman starts the Astros' home opener on April 2.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter hasn't committed to a fifth starter and the club continues to check the waiver wire.

Bundy was informed yesterday that he'd get the opening day assignment while Showalter met with the starters.

"We had some candidates, a lot of guys," Showalter said. "It's just that, all things considered, Dylan pitched as well as anybody last year. And if you look up the matchups and the way it goes, I thought he was our best choice. But everybody's our No. 1 starter. I don't think the pitchers make as big a deal about it as everybody else does, but I understand why it is.

"Dylan's equipped to handle it, as are all of our guys. I think coming off the year he had and physically where he is this spring, mentally where he is, I think he can handle that as well as any of our guys."

Bundy is the type of young pitcher who will keep the honor in perspective and not read too much into it.

"He doesn't need that," Showalter said. "Whether he was pitching fifth or first, it doesn't really enter into his mindset. He's going to come with the same approach regardless. He's very baseball mature for his age. He understands.

"Let's face it, they've been kind of doing the math probably for about a week now, as you have. I don't think it's some big announcement."

With the off-day on March 30, Bundy could make his next start in Houston on regular rest.

"I know we've got an idea of the way we're going to go," Showalter said, "but we'll see what the next couple of days bring. With what's going on in baseball, a lot of things are moving right now."

Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell sought ways to provide extra rest for Bundy last summer, and while the right-hander is further distanced from his elbow surgery, they again will consider it in 2018.

"We had that discussion," Showalter said. "I think we're still going to be, with all the pitchers ... It's a long season and we want them to make every start they can make.

"Dylan's going to be honest with us, he's going to be frank with us. He wants whatever binders are still left on him to be taken off. There's nothing been shown here to think that, OK, we still need to be real cautious with him. But like all pitchers, we'll pick our spots by what they're telling us and what we're seeing during the workdays and actually during the outings.

"He had a normal offseason, he's had a normal spring and there's no reason at this point to not treat him like a normal pitcher that's got a chance to be real good for us."

Showalter thinks Tim Beckham can avoid the disabled list after tweaking his groin yesterday, but he won't play Friday or Saturday.

Beckham could return to the lineup on Sunday. Otherwise, he'll accompany the team to Norfolk for Monday's game or stay back and get at-bats in camp.

"He's inside getting treatment," Showalter said. "The plan is for him to treat it today and tomorrow and see where we are. At this point we don't anticipate a DL, but we'll see what the next few days bring.

"With the temperature where it's supposed to be in Norfolk, I'm a little cautious about that."

Showalter wants Beckham to play again before committing to him for March 29.

"We're not going to just go from the training table to opening day," he said.

Beckham has accumulated 55 at-bats this spring. Missing a few games won't set him back.

"He's ready," Showalter said. "He's been a real, I don't want to say a surprise, but it's gratifying to see how he's taken to third base and the plays he's made over there. In fact, that's how he tweaked it was on the one play coming in."

Mark Trumbo is on the same timetable as previously reported. His quadriceps injury is expected to keep him out for three to four weeks. He's one week into it.

Center fielder Adam Jones will leave the team after today's game and fly to San Diego for a family situation. He'll return Sunday night and fly to Norfolk.

Showalter spoke to his late-inning relievers and indicated that Brad Brach and Darren O'Day will get opportunities to close. Mychal Givens also is in the mix.

"We're lucky to have two guys that have done it and are capable of doing it and have shown that in the past," Showalter said. "We're going to use that experience, and I think Mychal could fit into that role, too, if we had to do that.

"We'll have a plan each night as we go into the game, but I want them to know in advance. And they're not going to be pitching before the fifth inning or the sixth inning. But we'll take the situations as they come."

Still no word on Sunday's starter against the Phillies in Clearwater. We should know later today.

Showalter estimated that three more cuts are going to be made today.