Walker: "I'm in and committed to doing what the team needs me to do"

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander T.J. McFarland is listed among the Orioles' available relievers today. McFarland hasn't pitched since leaving a March 6 game against the Red Sox with elbow discomfort. X-rays came back negative.

Other relievers behind starter Kevin Gausman are Dylan Bundy, Pedro Beato and Oliver Drake.

Pirates pitchers today include Arquimedes Caminero, Montana DuRapau, Dovydas Neverauskas and ... Josh Smith.

One of these things is not like the other.

The Pirates also are bringing former Orioles reliever Jorge Rondon, infielder Pedro Florimon and first baseman Michael Morse. It's a different Josh Bell, however.

Yovani Gallardo starts Saturday against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Tampa Bay is sending Chris Archer to the mound.

The Orioles' collective ERA this spring is 7.11 in 138 innings. The team is batting .230.

Christian Walker said he mostly felt comfortable in left field yesterday, the first time he's played the position professionally. He dabbled at the University of South Carolina.

"As comfortable as I could be," he said. "I played a little bit in college. I've been shagging a lot the last couple of days, so as far as fly balls and routes, I felt pretty good. (Wayne) Kirby's been working with me. I just try not to do too much. Keep it simple. Hit the cutoff man, making the plays I'm supposed to make. I plan on learning a lot."

The most difficult adjustment in left field comes with a left-hander at the plate.

"The ball's going to be tailing away from me, but one thing about the outfield is, you have some time out there to kind of reflect on the situations and the batter and all the possible outcomes. Just try to remain prepared," Walker said.

"It's still very early in this process. I still have a lot to learn. Basically just going off instincts and a little bit of what I've learned the last couple of days. But yeah, I feel comfortable, I feel good. I feel like I can do the job and just keep learning."

The Orioles wanted to experiment with Walker in the outfield and weren't sure whether to try it in spring training or at Triple-A Norfolk if he didn't break camp with the team. He's become an option at the major league level with Hyun Soo Kim going 3-for-31 at the plate. Walker is 7-for-26 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and a team-leading eight RBIs.

"It's just been a conversation," he said. "There's been a couple days of early work. I'm happy that they got me some game action, if you will. I feel like that's a good way to learn, and if there is a time of the year to learn, it's now.

"I just try to remain prepared for all possible scenarios. I knew it could happen. I also knew it couldn't happen. But that decision wasn't up to me. I'm in and committed to doing what the team needs me to do. But at the same time, I was just trying to worry about myself and stay prepared."

Asked about the throwing challenges, Walker replied, "It's a little different, especially playing infield for so long. Some arm slot stuff. But I feel like I have the arm strength. Just a matter of timing up the footwork. The outfield stuff is slightly different from the infield."

The ball found Walker right away yesterday and it kept coming back to him.

"I think six of the first seven balls hit were to left field, so baptism by fire," he said.

Walker registered an assist in the first inning yesterday, cutting down Troy Tulowitzki at third base on Chris Colabello's single.

"One thing everybody's telling me is just think one base ahead," Walker said. "Guy on first, you kind of play out different scenarios. Ball on the ground, I'm going to throw it to third, or ball in the air, I'm going to get it to the cutoff man. Whatever the situation may be.

"It was a base hit, a little bit to my left. I know a lot of runners, especially this time of the year, like to go first to third, so I just tried to come up and put the ball in the right place, and fortunately it was a good throw."