Showalter on keeping Schoop in the lineup (O's lead 2-1)

Orioles manager Buck Showalter mentioned today that he'd like to give a couple of players the day off under different circumstances. If his club wasn't in a pennant race in the final week of September, a half-game lead for the second wild card capable of disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Showalter insists that he's not tracking the standings and peeking at the scoreboard, but he knows second baseman Jonathan Schoop is in a prolonged slump. Schoop batted .304/.338/.509 in the first half, but he's hitting .216/.241/.3789 since the break and his on-base percentage is the lowest in the majors.

The off-day on Monday would provide an extra day of rest for Schoop, the only Oriole to play every game, but he's starting again today and batting eighth.

"There are some guys who have been sitting on the bench and you're not real sure what you'll get," Showalter said.

Showalter didn't reference Ryan Flaherty, but the utility man has made one start since Aug. 11 and it was in left field at Fenway Park.

Showalter said he's spoken with Schoop, the exchange mostly kept private.

"I'm not going to talk about things we talked about personally, but I see the same thing you're talking about," Showalter said. "Sometimes you remind a guy how many contributions he makes every night, regardless of what he does offensively.

"We're having some challenges at times controlling our want-to, you know? Letting the game ... The game slows down and gets real easy sometimes. I tell the guys all the time, when you're going real good, don't write down what you're doing mechanically. That stuff comes and goes. What are you feeling? What's your mentality when you get up in the morning and come in here, going through BP and the game starts? What are you feeling? Those are the things you've got to remind yourself of. Your brain gets in the way of a lot of other stuff.

"Jon, he's gone through some periods and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it clicks for a week. This time of the year you're always hoping that the next game is that day it starts. We know we're a better team with Jon on the field."

Kevin Gausman remains the scheduled starter for Tuesday night's series opener in Toronto and is in line to start Sunday afternoon's regular season finale in New York if Showalter lets him pitch on normal rest.

"I haven't heard anything negative about how he feels today from his work day, so I would assume that," Showalter said of Tuesday's assignment.

Showalter will wait before declaring that Chris Tillman is starting Wednesday night's game against the Blue Jays. Tillman was supposed to throw a side session today and Showalter will want to check on his shoulder.

"I don't have any reason to think not," Showalter said.

The starter for Thursday remains TBD.

"I've been looking at everybody's numbers in Toronto," Showalter said. "I've been looking at everybody's numbers against Toronto generally. Some of those numbers are skewed because there are like three good outings and one real stinker. Which one? And you've got some guys who are pitching well. Are you going to get a different guy? So which ones do you put the most weight on? I think it's a little bit of everything.

"I know how we have it mapped out right now if everything falls in place, but every time we've gone more than two or three days it seems like the last month, something's come up that's changed the whole plan, so to speak.

"There's no perfect scenario, so you just weigh the things that you think are the most important. Just glad Wade (Miley) is coming off two good starts and Ubaldo (Jimenez) has been pitching well. You also can outthink yourself. At some point, you have to make a decision because the players need to know. It's like lineups."

Showalter has six starters, at least until Miley goes on paternity leave, and there are plenty of "moving parts." He hasn't committed to using every starter for the six remaining games on the road.

Miley could leave the team after today's game for the birth of his first child. There's also a chance that he accompanies the team to Toronto.

"He's still not sure of his plans," Showalter said. "He's got some flights booked just in case. I'm going to talk to him after we get through here and see what he wants to do."

The Orioles remain hopeful that outfielder Joey Rickard will avoid surgery on his right thumb.

"From what I understand, there really isn't anything to do surgery on, I was initially told," Showalter said. "Now that could have changed. I don't know. Because it's healed. But I don't know if he's going to get a second opinion.

"It will be something that we're going to have a definitive plan to make sure that he's ready for spring training. You don't want to wait until next spring and all of a sudden it's still an issue. But I have a lot of confidence in the guy that's been handling it. His track record with us is very good."

Update: Hyun Soo Kim hit a two-run homer in the second inning to break a scoreless tie. Kim has five RBIs this season.

Update II: Dylan Bundy retired the first nine batters he faced before Jean Segura led off the fourth inning with a double and scored on Paul Goldschmidt's one-out single. The Orioles lead 2-1.