Showalter on Gausman, Matusz and Paredes

The Orioles rotation could include Kevin Gausman as early as Monday, or he could remain out of it next week. It's anybody's guess at this point.

Gausman is starting Wednesday night for Triple-A Norfolk, putting him in line to pitch Monday unless manager Buck Showalter wants to keep Ubaldo Jimenez on his normal turn. And unless the Orioles decide Gausman would benefit from another start in the minors.

We know now that Jimenez starts Wednesday and Chris Tillman starts Thursday, with Yovani Gallardo slated to pitch Friday in the series opener in Kansas City. Vance Worley is working out of bullpen tonight and could be slotted in the rotation later, but he's just one of the uncertainties at the moment.

The Orioles want Gausman to get his pitch count up to around 90, with a minimum of five innings.

"I hope things go well with Kevin," Showalter said. "As he said, this is the best his shoulder has felt in quite some time. I'm hoping this time is really going to do well for him. I don't want to jinx him. We'll see how he does. A great hitter's park, a great hitter's team in Charlotte, on the road.

"I think when this is behind him, I really think that he's going to go. I can just tell in his face. I saw him as I was coming in today, he was leaving to go to the airport to Charlotte. You can just tell he's looking forward to this. He's handling it maturely. He knows he needs another start at least. We'll see.

"I think there's a certain date with pitchers, I think it's like 30 days, we'll probably be running up against. Same way with (Brian) Matusz."

Gausman wanted to make the April 10 start, but understood that the process couldn't be rushed. He needs to be confident that the shoulder won't start barking again and he can stay in the rotation for the remainder of the season.

"There's thresholds you cross mentally and emotionally as much as you do physically," Showalter said. "That's something that's only going to come with time."

Gausman also came down with shoulder tendinitis last spring and again in May, forcing him onto the disabled list.

"Our pitchers are precious commodities and if you don't believe it, try and go get one right now. They're slim pickings, and that's some of the things that went on last year," Showalter said.

"I know a lot of people, because we didn't talk about it, were wondering about Kevin up and down and different things going on with him. That had a lot to do with it. We were trying to get him through the year, thinking if we could get all these things behind us. There's nothing chronic or something. We've taken a lot of pictures and whatever you want to talk of. We know what we're dealing with, it's just there's some stuff that comes with pitching for a living. Every chance we got last year, we tried to shorten his season a little bit without putting too much wear and tear on him."

Gausman isn't assured of a spot in the rotation when he returns, though it's assumed. He could go to the bullpen. He has minor league options.

We're still trying to figure out whether he comes off the DL early next week.

"We'll see, just like last time, how he feels and what our people there think," Showalter said. "Is he better than what we have? We know he has potential to be here and contribute, potentially, for the rest of the season. We'll see how tomorrow night goes in Charlotte."

Increasing his pitch count and improving his efficiency are two major goals in Charlotte.

"I think it's five, six (innings), 90 (pitches) if the other team cooperates. They haven't been too cooperative in most of his outings," Showalter said.

"He knows it. We've talked to him in Texas when he flew back. He had a little work day there before the rain got too bad. He knows he needs, he thinks, one more start. We'll see if we agree with him after tomorrow."

Matusz could be activated this weekend in Kansas City. He was sidelined most of spring training with a strained muscle in his lower back and already has made four appearances in the minors, allowing eight runs and 10 hits in six innings. He's walked one, struck out seven and surrendered three home runs.

"I think you come in to camp and the type of injury he had, he couldn't do anything," Showalter said. "He couldn't throw. He couldn't ... Conditioning was really limited to lower half. It's almost like he started over again.

"We really wanted to get him some multiple-inning outings, which he seemed to respond real well to in springs in the past. Brady (Anderson) and Wally (Dave Wallace) have really been on top of it. His last outing was close. I'm hoping he takes the final step tonight.

"I think Brady and I think (scout) Dean Albany, those guys are going over there tonight. They've been watching him all along and they felt he made a big step in his last outing."

Jimmy Paredes, who sprained his left wrist on March 3 while trying to make a diving catch in Port Charlotte, played both outfield corners today at extended spring training. He's gone, but not forgotten.

"Felt good," Showalter said. "The plan is to play there and get about 20 at-bats, so he could potentially be looking at going out somewhere on Monday. He's going to move fast, I think, once he gets through this week. He feels good. That's encouraging."

It's also complicated. How would the Orioles make room for him on the 25-man roster with Pedro Alvarez serving as designated hitter against right-handers? Hyun Soo Kim won't accept a minor league assignment.

"Jimmy's got something to offer," Showalter said. "Whether it's Brian or Gaus or Jimmy, we've got three tough decisions coming up. I'm not going to dwell on them right now. Certainly everybody's given it some thought, but until it comes ...

"We've got some looming decisions potentially, but I'm not one of those guys who wants to slow-play something. I think in fairness to our club and whoever it might be, in this case Jimmy Paredes, you take decisions as they come and as they present themselves. You compare and see what your options are."

Note: The Orioles will hold a moment of silence for former pitcher Milt Pappas, who died earlier today at 76.

Pappas' 110 victories with the Orioles rank seventh in club history.