Showalter on rotation, Pearce and roster

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was hit with another rotation question today, causing him to shake his head and chuckle.

Yes, it's still Wei-Yin Chen on Sunday and Kevin Gausman on Monday to close out the Twins series.

Chen was in the Orioles clubhouse today after spending a few days in Sarasota. Gausman also is back in Baltimore.

Showalter expressed relief that Steve Pearce's MRI didn't reveal anything more serious than a strained right abdominal muscle, though he didn't guarantee that the first baseman would return to the lineup within a day or two.

"About as good of news as you could expect," Showalter said. "It doesn't sound like it's oblique from what I've heard, it doesn't sound like it's a sports hernia from what I'm told. I'm just being frank with you. It's the old day-to-day.

"From some of the things he was telling us, we can see why an MRI there might be some discomfort there, but nothing that should keep him from returning to us at some point. How's that?

"He's not a guy who broadcasts a lot of things that might be uncomfortable, just like a lot of our guys. I had to get him up the runway yesterday and he finally gave me a ... Guys have so many little small things along the way, the big challenge is judging what's risky to continue and what's something you've just got to play through. Nelson Cruz got smoked in the forearm last night. I talked to him a couple times during the game to see if it had stiffened up or whatever. Jonesy (Adam Jones) seems to hit once a night. Trying to judge what's something you should be cautious with and what's something you just try to play with is the hardest thing.

"Stevie was pretty frank with me and I thought we were running some risk to continue. He would have probably continued if it were, say, a playoff game or something, if we're fortunate enough to get there. I'm hoping it's something we can get behind us at some point."

The Orioles met again today to discuss September call-ups. They have two open spots on the 40-man roster and can transfer Manny Machado to the 60-day disabled list once they reach capacity.

"We met, Dan (Duquette) and I and the coaching staff today, and we've met a couple times on it," Showalter said. "Give R.J. (Ron Johnson) and the guys and Brian Graham - they're traveling to Durham - of who we're thinking about right now.

"We've got a couple things up in the air as far as, it may affect who we call up by some things that happen the next couple of days."

Stay tuned.

Graham will join the coaching staff on Monday, accompany the Orioles to Tampa and head over to Sarasota for the instructional league. The Orioles will add another coach while they're in Boston. Johnson and Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin will join the staff during the next homestand.

Scott McGregor is here for the remainder of the season.

For the Twins
Danny Santana CF
Brian Dozier 2B
Joe Mauer DH
Kennys Vargas 1B
Oswaldo Arcia RF
Trevor Plouffe 3B
Kurt Suzuki C
Eduardo Escobar SS
Jordan Schafer LF

Kyle Gibson RHP