Showalter on Lee: "He's got a chance to help us this year"

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have 41 players in camp after optioning left-hander Chris Lee to Triple-A Norfolk before tonight's game against the Twins.

"We'll keep moving in that direction toward 25," said manager Buck Showalter.

Lee allowed four runs and 12 hits in five appearances over 13 innings, with five walks and 10 strikeouts. But in two starts that led to today's roster move, he surrendered two runs and seven hits and walked four batters in five innings.

Lee didn't make it past the second inning Wednesday night against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Too many deep counts.

"Chris has got a good arm," Showalter said. "I like the way he can pitch with his fastball in the strike zone. This is going to give him an opportunity to work on his secondary pitches. He's got a chance to help us this year.

"I wanted to hear what he had to say about what he's gotten out of this and what kind of mindset he's going down there with and what he wants to work on and do. He knows it's about production, too. There's a fine line between going down and working on something and trying to put your best foot forward every night. But it's exciting to have an arm like that in our rotation in Triple-A.

Making the jump from Double-A Bowie to the majors would have been ambitious, especially with Lee limited to only eight games last year due to a lat injury. He didn't pitch after May.

"The big thing was getting him back healthy," Showalter said. "He feels great and that was good. He had a pretty tough injury last year that took a long time to get back from. I applaud our guys. They were real cautious with him to get him back and he probably feels as good as he has in a long time. He's put on some weight, in good shape. I tell you, I'm expecting a good year from him and being there for us if we need him."

Showalter said Lee "might still be" a contender for the fifth starter's job.

"We've got until the 15th to pick that guy," Showalter said.

Lee is the first to go down because Gabriel Ynoa is starting tonight against the Twins and left-hander Jayson Aquino is starting on Sunday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Tyler Wilson is starting Monday against the Red Sox in Sarasota.

"Anybody we send down, (it) doesn't mean they're not our fifth starter," Showalter said.

Showalter lined up Mike Wright, Ynoa and Aquino for Grapefruit League games while having Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy pitch yesterday at Twin Lakes Park.

Jonathan Schoop is in the lineup tonight after Showalter indicated last night that the second baseman might not play.

"I hadn't had a chance to talk to him," Showalter said. "He wants to play. He's ready to go. These guys need to get some reps. Adam (Jones) doesn't. Adam, we'll slow-play that one. He's on the back field throwing some now.

"Talked to all of them about their schedule the rest of the way and we've got a pretty good feel for where we're going with them the rest of the way. Jon and Manny (Machado) will play today and don't think they'll go to Dunedin tomorrow."

As I wrote earlier, Chris Tillman remains scheduled to make throws on Sunday from 60-90 feet.

"Not a big day, but I'd love to have that ... I think we'll have a pretty good feel tomorrow what we're looking at," Showalter said.