Showalter confirms only two starters for Diamondbacks series

Orioles manager Buck Showalter revealed his first two starters for the Diamondbacks series this weekend at Camden Yards. He also planted a little intrigue.

Showalter said Yovani Gallardo will start Friday night and Wade Miley will take the ball Saturday night. The Sunday starter is TBD.

The Diamondbacks are starting Shelby Miller, left-hander Robbie Ray and Braden Shipley.

Miley exited Sunday's start after four scoreless innings due to cramping in his upper back that a physician described as a mild muscle strain. Miley said he woke up the next day and felt great.

Asked why he's starting Miley against Arizona on Saturday, Showalter replied, "He feels fine. And we've got some other factors involved that will emerge as we go forward, I'm sure, that I'm not going to really bring to light yet."

It's apparent that there are some health concerns within the rotation that require close monitoring by Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace.

Perhaps they want to push back Dylan Bundy, who's at 104 2/3 innings in his rookie season and hasn't completed six in his last five. He allowed five runs and six hits over five innings Monday night against the Red Sox.

"We have some moving parts with our rotation, some health things that we have to be on top of," Showalter said. "We'll wait and see how Miley's work day goes, wait and see how Gaus (Kevin Gausman) feels after his start, how (Chris) Tillman feels after his start. We try to gauge it because we have more than five and we have off days."

Showalter said he'll continue to try to provide extra rest for starters down the stretch and probably won't pitch anyone on short rest, no matter the importance of the games.

"Will I consider it? Yeah, I'd consider it," he said. "Would I do it? Probably not. We don't really have anybody who would fit in that mode.

"We've got some things we can play with after the off-day, but right now it's about tonight's game and trying to win it and we'll see where we are after that. We take in a lot of information each day from work days. We've got two or three pieces of information yesterday that will play into our decisions as we go forward. It seems like over half the stuff never gets public that you kind of have to keep in house, so it doesn't behoove anybody to be talking about it publicly."

Gallardo will be making only his second start since Sept. 6. He gave up six runs and seven hits against the Rays in only 3 1/3 innings on Thursday.

"This time of year, I think everybody kind of benefits (from extra days), but you can have too many, too," Showalter said. "These guys know when they're pitching and they do things between starts to make sure.

"This time of year, you've got so many innings under your belt, there's not a whole lot of break in your regimen. It might be the length, but they do things in between. They might take an extra work day."

Miley is leaving the club after Sunday's game to be with his wife. He isn't expected to rejoin the Orioles until the final regular season series in New York.

The Orioles are off Monday and doctors will induce labor Tuesday or Wednesday.

Showalter doesn't expect the Orioles to add another pitcher in Miley's absence, "but it could change depending on how the next few nights to."

"We're not there yet," Showalter said. "I think we'll be all right."