Still waiting on Sunday starter

NEW YORK - About 90 percent of the questions directed at Orioles manager Buck Showalter today came from New York writers wanting his thoughts on Derek Jeter. Most of it you've already heard. Showalter hasn't named a starter for Sunday's game in Toronto, saying Ubaldo Jimenez and Miguel Gonzalez are options. He told reporters yesterday that he was leaning toward Jimenez. Today, he mentioned Jimenez first when asked about the possibilities, for what that's worth. Both pitchers threw bullpen sessions today and Gonzalez sensed that he would get the start, but he hadn't been told officially. Like everyone else, he was waiting for confirmation. "To be determined," Showalter said. "Ubaldo is one of the ones we're thinking about. I'm hoping we have some clarity by then about who we might be playing (in the Division Series) and I hope we're not making plans to come back here (on Monday)." No matter who takes the mound on Sunday, the relievers will get plenty of work to avoid a long layoff before Game 1 of the Division Series. "We're going to pitch a lot of people on Sunday, so before you all start rolling your eyes up there, I want to give you a heads up," Showalter said. "I'm sure you were rolling your eyes yesterday, too, so maybe I should apologize up front." Gonzalez could pitch a simulated game to stay sharp if he doesn't start in Toronto. He hasn't pitched since Sunday at Camden Yards. The other option would be sending a pitcher to Sarasota and let him face hitters in the instructional league. "There are so many unknown variables," Showalter said, referring again to the clouded playoff picture. "We're going to take Monday off, unless we're playing here, and wait and see who we play. That's why we set up the rotation to have some wiggle room to go in different directions depending on who we're playing. "We're going to meet on Monday, provided we're not here, and I want everybody to know what's going on with them before Tuesday so that when we have that workout Tuesday and Wednesday, we have that 25-plus. We're going to keep some guys, too." Showalter needs to keep extra players close in case of an injury. He's anticipating that Game 1 could start around 6 p.m., with an early start the following day in Game 2. Chris Tillman, who starts Friday night, left the clubhouse this afternoon and boarded a flight to Toronto. The tarp has come off the field at Yankee Stadium. Fingers crossed that we start on time.