Talking rotation, Rickard and the roster

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles begin a stretch tonight when they'll play four of their last six Grapefruit League games at 6:05 p.m.

Nothing like being under the lights to get you ready for the regular season.

The Orioles travel to McKechnie Field in Bradenton to face the Pirates, which is more like playing under the flashlights. Ubaldo Jimenez will take the mound after making his last two starts at Twin Lakes Park.

Jimenez allowed a combined one run and five hits over 10 2/3 innings against minor league competition. He hasn't pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 12, when he surrendered one run and four hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Twins.

Manager Buck Showalter wants to set his rotation today if possible. He may reveal his opening day starter, knowing the media gladly will take it on a "slow news day."

The top three are lined up as Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Jimenez. Kevin Gausman could go on the disabled list and still be the fifth starter on April 10, in case you hadn't been reminded.

The projected rotation of Tillman, Gallardo, Jimenez, Gausman and Miguel Gonzalez has surrendered 55 earned runs and 73 hits in 44 2/3 innings. The group has issued 24 walks and struck out 28 batters.

Odrisamer Despaigne, who's expected to start at Triple-A Norfolk, has posted a 6.75 ERA in eight relief appearances. He's allowed 10 runs and 19 hits in 13 1/3 innings, with six walks and five strikeouts.

Mike Wright, who starts again on Monday, has posted a 5.74 ERA in five games. He's allowed 10 runs and 19 hits in 15 2/3 innings, with four walks and 15 strikeouts.

Tyler Wilson is carrying a 2.92 ERA in five games, including three starts. He's allowed five runs (four earned) and 13 hits in 12 1/3 innings, with no walks and six strikeouts.

The opening day lineup won't be announced until we're back in Baltimore. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard started in left field again yesterday and batted first, with Adam Jones hitting behind him. Rickard will head north with the club, but his role remains undefined.

How about backup outfielder and occasional starter who could occupy the leadoff spot? Or maybe he fits into a platoon.

"It's crept in my mind," Rickard said last week on the "Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 The Fan. "It's hard not to think about those things, but like I've been telling people all spring, just take it one day at a time and just really focus on what you can control, and that's just going out there and having a good attitude and playing hard every day."

One of the more common questions I field on Twitter relates to why the Rays left Rickard unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. What were they thinking?

"It is what it is," he said. "I thought there was an outside chance that I would get protected, given the year I had, but they're a very deep organization, especially in the outfield. They've got a lot of players ahead of me.

"Once that happened, I was down playing winter ball and people started talking to me, saying, 'Hey, you've got something else to play for now. Don't get down on yourself.' That whole deal, which I didn't.

"They said, 'You've got something else to play for. They could have made a mistake not doing it, so you're playing for the rest of the teams now.' And that's kind of the approach I went with and I was able to stay focused and put together a good winter."

The 25-man roster could take on a different look after the first week. Left-hander Brian Matusz could go on the DL retroactive to March 25 and be eligible to return on April 9, with Gausman joining him the following day.

Breaking camp with four starters would allow the Orioles to carry an extra reliever or position player until Gausman is activated. Don't get too attached to the roster that's announced before the opener.