Showalter provides updates on Tillman and Smith

BRADENTON, Fla. - The next move in trying to get Chris Tillman back on a mound is a cortisone injection and another dose of cautious optimism.

Tillman may have the shot today. Manager Buck Showalter only could confirm the decision, which was made by Tillman after consulting with the medical staff. He called head athletic trainer Richie Bancells last night.

"We put all the options out there to him and let him decide what he wants to do," Showalter said before heading to Bradenton for today's game against the Pirates.

"It was something that he and they were contemplating and they decided to go in that direction. I talked to him a little bit on the field yesterday. He was going through the pros and cons. At the end of the day, it's his decision."

Tillman received a platelet-rich plasma injection in December and had to be shut down again on Sunday after the discomfort returned as he played catch before a third scheduled bullpen session. Tillman made about 10 throws and headed back to the clubhouse.

A player can receive one cortisone injection every sixth months. That's the standard procedure.

The Orioles also are hopeful that the antibiotic Tillman took for an infection has left his system. It caused soreness in his joints.

More rest and an injection, which shuts him down for two-to-three days, is the next course of action.

"That's about it," Showalter said. "Just continue down the path. I think with the last part of that medication getting out of his system and the cortisone shot, we think we've increased our chances of him getting back on the hill.

"We think this might help take him over that last hump."

The Orioles need a fifth starter on April 15. Showalter won't be drawn into any discussions about a target date for Tillman.

"I know you all need to and people want to hear projections and stuff," he said. "If he comes out of this and feels normal again, everything he's done to get to this point won't go away. He could move quickly then. But it's still not opening day. That's about as far as I'd go with it."

Showalter also said Seth Smith isn't progressing from a sore hamstring that's kept him out of games.

"He didn't have a setback. It's just kind of staying the same, so we'll continue slow-playing that," Showalter said.

"Last year he started with it and it was pretty minor. This one is even more minor than that, he said. We and he don't want to go into the season with it being a nagging thing, so we're trying to clear it up. He said he gets it about every spring.

"Last year he didn't feel like he was cautious enough with it and went into the season with it."

More roster cuts are coming today.

Left-hander Chris Lee will make his first spring start Thursday night against the Phillies. Gabriel Ynoa starts Friday.