Vance Worley on his next opportunity to start

ARLINGTON, Texas - It wasn't until yesterday evening, shortly before first pitch, that the Orioles confirmed their starter for Friday night. The TBA designation was replaced by a name.

It also wasn't until yesterday that Vance Worley found out the Orioles chose him for the assignment.

Worley will stay on turn against the Rangers at Globe Life Park, making his second start of the season after breaking camp as an extra reliever.

"I threw a 'pen and that put me pretty much ready for yesterday if I needed to be in the 'pen or today," he said. "I was just treating it as if I was a starter until they told me I was going out to the 'pen. And so far it sounds like it's starting, so yeah, just try to prepare myself and watch this game the best I can to prepare."

Worley made his debut on April 10 against the Rays and allowed two earned runs (three total) and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five batters.

Worley hadn't pitched since the April 1 exhibition in Philadelphia and didn't really know how the layoff would impact him.

"Considering I haven't really been stretched out, I was just trying to go as deep into that game as I could and keep them to as little runs as possible," he said. "(Brad) Brach came in and saved me and got me out of that jam and we won. That's all I can really get out of that in any outing, really, is keep the team in it and give us a shot."

Worley was on a strict pitch count against the Rays and came out after 79 pitches. The Orioles are ready now to turn loose the Vanimal.

"I think that outing should have built me up enough to get a little deeper for this next one," he said, "and we'll just try to build off each one."

Whether Worley gets another start after Friday remains a mystery. Kevin Gausman is making a rehab start Friday night at Single-A Frederick and could bump Worley from the rotation.

"I think I'm going to treat it kind of like spring training, where each outing is going to possibly be my last," he said. "Just try to go out there and throw as many zeros up as I can and get deep in the game and try to prove that I'm a starter, and if it doesn't work out that way, hopefully they'll throw me out in the 'pen."

Worley's faced the Rangers only once, allowing two runs in five innings in April 2013 while pitching for the Twins. He's never pitched in Arlington.

At least he's missing the intense heat.

"From what I see on TV, the ball flies," he said. "I haven't had a chance really to talk to too many guys. We were all too busy trying to get some rest on the plane last night and today. I'm just going to probably talk to some guys on the bench today and during BP and keep the ball down."