Showalter on roster moves, Beckham and more (O's win 6-5)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The two roster cuts that are coming following today's game involve players in the Orioles lineup and it's probably safe to assume that outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Luis Sardiñas will be reassigned to minor league camp.

Outfielder Alex Presley is exploring opportunities via the opt-out clause in his contract, which explains why he isn't on today's lineup card. He could double back to the organization and begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

Presley is 13-for-40 (.325) with two doubles, one triple and four RBIs. He can back up at all three outfield spots.

Pedro Álvarez appears to have made the club as a left-handed designated hitter and backup first baseman.

With left-handers Joely Rodriguez and Josh Edgin reassigned to minor league camp, Showalter suggested that it's fair to speculate that Nestor Cortes Jr., Mike Wright Jr. and Miguel Castro have made the club and complete the pitching staff. However, there's always a caveat.

"You can do that, but there's still some possibilities," said manager Buck Showalter. "I don't think you're going to know anything 100 percent sure until noon the day of the first game (Thursday). We've got until then. But obviously those guys are still in the fold."

Rodriguez and Edgin combined to allow only two runs in 17 1/3 innings, but the Orioles couldn't make room for them.

"That was my 40th conversation of the spring," Showalter said. "As you get toward the end they get tougher and tougher because neither one of them really did anything not to make the club. But it's spring training, too, and you're still leaning some on the track record, but I think both of those guys have a chance to help us.

"They didn't do anything here not to make the club. That's a good thing. They verified a lot of things we thought about them during the offseason."

Rodriguez and Edgin will be assigned to Norfolk. Nice bullpen depth, though it also comes with a caveat.

"The depth is if they perform well," Showalter said. "Every team says that in the spring. We like it on paper right now and on performance, and somewhat in track record. You've got two guys who have had some success in the big leagues and they're going to be pitching at Norfolk. Especially with Joely at 26 years old. He's a real interesting guy. And Edg is, too."

Tim Beckham ran and threw today and is making significant progress after tweaking his groin last week. It appears that he's avoided the disabled list.

Beckham won't go to Norfolk on Monday, but he could play in a simulated game the following day.

"He did a lot of different stuff back there with Brian (Ebel) and Brady (Anderson) and the crew and that went well," Showalter said. "It's encouraging today. No real issue right now. I think the big thing is how he feels tomorrow, if he's sore or whatever."

Alex Cobb is scheduled to throw around 45 pitches today in his three-inning simulated game in Sarasota. Showalter said Cobb could be ready for the rotation anywhere from April 9-14, but not before.

Cobb and Zach Britton will be in Baltimore for opening day.

The Orioles won't hold a reunion with infielder Ryan Flaherty. They discussed a minor league deal with him, but a better offer came along. Flaherty will be placed on a major league roster in the National League.

Rhys Hoskins led off the bottom of the second inning today with a home run off Cortes to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Odúbel Herrera singled with two outs in the first, but catcher Chance Sisco picked him off first base.

Sisco singled in the second.

Update: The Orioles scored twice in the fifth and lead 2-1. Sisco singled again and scored on Anthony Santander's double. Santander came home on a double play.

Update II: Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer off Brad Brach in the seventh to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead, but Jaycob Brugman had an RBI single in the eighth, Jomar Reyes drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs and a wild pitch put the Orioles ahead 5-3.

Ruben Tejada led off with a double, Sardinas singled and Brugman delivered the game-tying RBI single. Jake Ring singled to load the bases with no outs, but a pop up and strikeout threatened to keep the game tied.

The Phillies used four pitchers in the inning. Zac Curtis walked Reyes and threw the wild pitch.

Update III: Richard Bleier gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth on a double, single and fielder's choice. Orioles 5, Phillies 4.

Update IV: Adrian Marin doubled with two outs and scored on Brugman's single to give the Orioles a 6-4 lead in the ninth.

Update V: The Orioles win 6-5 to finish the Florida portion of their spring schedule. They play at Triple-A Norfolk tomorrow.