Showalter on Jones: "I hope he's back in the lineup tomorrow"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter eased into specifics today on Adam Jones' injury, saying there were "a lot of reasons" why the center fielder's name didn't appear in the lineup.

"I'm trying to get everybody a start before we get through this homestand," Showalter said. "Got Caleb (Joseph) and Nolan (Reimold) in there."

Jones is out because he was "a little sore in the rib area yesterday," Showalter said.

"He wants to play. He says he's fine. Probably not real happy with the old manager right now, but I just thought it would be smart to give him a day. The only time it was a challenge for him was the last at-bat. I was asking him if he felt it before, if it was something nagging. I know it wasn't batting practice yesterday because there were no torque issues there.

"Kind of tough to read sometimes. He was talking about what I told you last night. He had a slider that he really should have ... he was ticked that he ... and then it kind of caught him a little bit, so just discomfort there in the rib cage area that we hope can manage in a day. I hope he's back in the lineup tomorrow."

No tests are scheduled for Jones, though that's always subject to change.

Jones appeared to be in some discomfort after swinging at a pitch on opening day, but he told Showalter that the rib cage soreness didn't surface until last night.

"He said the only time he felt it was his last at-bat yesterday because I asked him that same question," Showalter said. "That's what he's telling me and I have no reason to doubt him.

"People talk about, we're not going to the mention the "obl" word, but that (oblique) injury wasn't around years ago. But you think about all the swings these guys take nowadays, so you wonder sometimes ..."

Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard stays in the lineup after collecting four hits and an RBI in the first two games. He's just changing positions and his placement in the order, moving to center field and the leadoff spot.

Rickard still would bat ninth if the lineup included Jones.

"The thing with Joey is we all know that he can potentially bring that skill set you're looking for there," Showalter said. "You don't want to just put that spotlight on him right away, so you put him in the nine hole and then the timing is when is he ready for (leadoff)? And then if he goes there and doesn't do well, is that the reason?

"I think it is what it is. He's got the skill set. You'd like to think it's when and not if, but it's not really that case. I think the nine hole is one of the most important parts of an American League lineup. The ability to turn that over and be able to do some things down there. When we've been good we've had production out of that spot. But sometimes necessity lets you take a look at something that you might not have done that night, so we'll try to take advantage of that."

The Orioles wanted to improve their depth at center field and shortstop in case Jones or J.J. Hardy were injured or needed a day off "and we didn't have a big dropoff in performance," Showalter said.

"Having Joey here has been, that's one of the things when we drafted him, we thought he could be a backup center fielder," Showalter said.

Meanwhile, it began to rain again at Camden Yards, but it's appeared to stop. We may be doing this weather dance for much of the night.

For the Twins

Brian Dozier 2B
Danny Santana RF
Joe Mauer 1B
Miguel Sano DH
Trevor Plouffe 3B
Eddie Rosario LF
Eduardo Escobar SS
John Ryan Murphy C
Byron Buxton CF

Phil Hughes RHP