Tillman waiting to find out status next week

NEW YORK - Chris Tillman still hasn't been told whether he'll be activated on Tuesday or make another rehab start. The Orioles may wait until Sunday's bullpen session before notifying him.

Tillman made his third rehab start last night and his first with Single-A Frederick, allowing six runs (four earned) and eight hits in five innings at Potomac. He has a 6.35 ERA in 11 1/3 innings, including 6 1/3 with Double-A Bowie.

"I feel good," he said. "I'm sore, a good sore, which I think any sore is good now. For the most part pretty good today."

Is he ready to come off the disabled list?

"I don't think we've jumped to any conclusions yet," he replied. "I think it's still up in the air. I think I'm pitching Tuesday. It's just a matter of where it's at."

The Orioles need a fifth starter Tuesday in Boston and the spot currently is TBD.

"I think we'll go day to day. I really do," he said. "We talked about it a little bit, but we're not going to make any decisions now."

There's always something to be gained by extending a rehab assignment, if the Orioles choose to go down that road.

"I don't think there's anything to lose anywhere we go," Tillman said. "Like I said, there is a process to it and I think we've hit all the steps on the money. I've definitely seen it progress and I think that's a good thing. Sometimes, you get lost in it and you're not really seeing the progression of where it's going, but I've definitely seen where this is going and it's headed in the right direction.

"I felt like I covered all the bases, but at the same time I think you can never get enough pitching. As long as you're going out there every fifth day, I think that's a step in the right direction. And I think I've had two or three on four days' rest now, and I think I have a pretty good idea how I'm going to feel and what I need to do to recover. So far, so good.

"I don't want to get ahead of myself, but definitely you can always gain by pitching, regardless of where it is."

Tillman opened the season on the disabled list with right shoulder bursitis. He's gradually increased his innings and pitch count and judges himself strictly on health, not his final lines.

"The only thing I really care about right now is how I feel," he said. "I think that goes for everybody in spring training. I know it's not spring training, but for me it is. That's the way I'm looking at it. Most times you say you get through spring healthy, you've had a good spring. That's the way I'm looking at it."