The rotation, health updates and the break (O's up 6-5)

As manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Roger McDowell line up the post-break rotation, they're cognizant of the need to give right-hander Kevin Gausman an extended break before his next outing.

Gausman won't pitch again until July 23 against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. His most recent start came in Thursday night's makeup game against the Phillies, when he allowed five runs and a career-high 12 hits over five innings to leave his ERA at 4.33 in 112 1/3 innings.

"Trying to give Gausman the most rest I can," Showalter said. "He's pitched the most and had some nagging things. I want to really take this time to try to freshen him up a little bit, so I want to push him back a little bit."

Dylan Bundy starts Friday night in Toronto, followed by Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb or the other way around. Gausman starts on July 23 and Yefry Ramírez on July 24.

The Orioles didn't option Ramírez last night and bring up a fresh arm because he wouldn't have been eligible to return until July 25.

Chris Tillman starts today at Triple-A Norfolk as his rehab assignment nears its conclusion. He isn't part of the post-break rotation and a decision on his status is pending.

Showalter doesn't expect outfielder Craig Gentry or infielder Steve Wilkerson to return anytime in the near future.

"Neither one of those is real imminent," he said. "Hoping they're both moving sometime in early August."

Rule 5 pick Pedro Araujo was attempting again today to throw on flat ground. He had to dial it back recently after experiencing some discomfort in his elbow after expanding the distance to 120 feet.

The Orioles will have a short workout Thursday in Toronto.

"Kind of regather," Showalter said. "We have a couple guys who are intelligently spending the All-Star break in Toronto. It's called 'double dipping.' I'm not."

The break can be viewed differently in a lost season, as opposed to the periods when a team has playoff aspirations. Players are more in need of the mental break than anything else.

"There are times when I've been here where you almost didn't want the break because you knew that you were playing well," Showalter said. "You kind of don't know what you're going to get afterward sometimes. This one I'm hoping can be potentially good for us. We're four days closer to get some players that have been hurt back."

Showalter expects to have the same roster on Friday, with no trades consummated. He has no other choice.

"Sure I do. It's my job," he said.

"If and when there are adjustments in our roster, Dan (Duquette) will let me know and we'll make the adjustments. We talked some today in my office ... more about any adjustments we want to make in the current roster with the current organizational roster."

For the Rangers
Shin-Soo Choo DH
Elvis Andrus SS
Jurickson Profar 3B
Rougned Odor 2B
Ronald Guzmán 1B
Ryan Rua RF
Joey Gallo LF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa C
Delino DeShields CF

Mike Minor LHP

Update: Miguel Castro walked the first three batters in the first inning and Ronald Guzmán hit a grand slam with one out to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead. Castro threw 33 pitches in the inning.

Update II: Manny Machado hit his 24th home run with two outs in the bottom of the first to reduce the lead to 4-1.

Update III: The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate in the third and scored five runs to take a 6-5 lead. Caleb Joseph had an RBI double, Adam Jones had a three-run double and Jones scored on Jurickson Profar's throwing error.

We're in a rain delay in the bottom of the fourth.

Update IV: Shin-Soo Choo led off the top of the seventh with a home run off Mike Wright Jr. to cut the lead to 6-5.