Today's game and a pending roster move

Wade Miley finally gets to pitch in a real game today, no longer confined to Sarasota exhibitions, minor league camp matchups and simulated action. This one will count.

Miley, freed from the flu or its strength-sapping effects, is searching for his first career win against the Yankees. He's 0-3 with a 5.58 ERA in seven starts and has registered a 1.463 WHIP in 40 1/3 innings.

Miley faced the Yankees twice last season, surrendering four runs and five hits with four walks over five innings in a 5-2 loss on Sept. 4, and three runs and nine hits with one walk and nine strikeouts over six innings on Oct. 1. Reliever Brad Brach got the decision in a 7-3 loss and manager Buck Showalter was criticized and second-guessed for leaving Miley in the game for too long.

The Yankees scored one run each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and tallied four in the eighth. Oliver Drake let two inherited runners score in the eighth and the Orioles had to wait a little longer to clinch the second wild card.

Starlin Castro is 3-for-21 (.143) lifetime against Miley. Brett Gardner is 5-for-17 (.294) with two doubles and Chase Headley is 9-for-31 (.290) with two doubles.

Left-hander CC Sabathia tossed five scoreless innings in his 2017 debut against the Rays. He's 19-10 with a 3.31 ERA in 38 career starts against the Orioles and 11-7 with a 3.43 ERA in 23 starts at Camden Yards.

Chris Davis is 9-for-45 (.200) with a home run and 20 strikeouts against Sabathia. J.J. Hardy is 15-for-52 (.288) with seven doubles, a triple and a home run, and Adam Jones is 21-for-78 (.269) with four doubles, a triple, five home runs and 15 RBIs.

Caleb Joseph will catch today. Showalter wants to get everyone involved, but infielder Ryan Flaherty bats from the left side and isn't likely to start against Sabathia. Left-hander Drew Pomeranz starts Tuesday for the Red Sox, but knuckleballer Steven Wright follows on Wednesday.

Does Craig Gentry make his first start today in right field or is Trey Mancini the choice again? Would Showalter sit Davis in the season's fifth game, with an off day to follow, and put Gentry and Mancini in the lineup? Mark Trumbo could play first with Mancini serving as DH, or reverse it.

The Orioles must make a roster move to accommodate Miley. A reliever or reserve is going to be sent packing. Mancini and Joey Rickard have options. Gentry and Drake do not.

Drake worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings yesterday and threw 23 pitches, his second appearance of the week.

Showalter was hesitant to bring Gentry north only because of the option situation. The Orioles know another team will claim the veteran outfielder if placed on waivers and they value his defense and speed. He's an ideal fourth or fifth outfielder, especially with platoons needed in left and right.

Don't bother suggesting Flaherty. He's the super utility player, the guy who backs up at every infield position and also can play the outfield.

Tyler Wilson, Vidal Nuño, Mychal Givens and Donnie Hart are optionable pieces in the 'pen, but also valuable ones. Givens and Hart seem to be locks to stay. Wilson and Nuño are the right-handed and left-handed long relievers. Nuno hasn't appeared in the first four games, but that's Nuño business.

If we're really overthinking it, Showalter would prefer a right-hander to back up Miley.