Who knows what tomorrow brings?

The Orioles are off today and it should be relatively quiet, but Tuesday figures to bring more than just a game against the Houston Astros and right-hander Lucas Harrell, who leads the majors with 37 walks in 63 2/3 innings. As if I need to provide Lucas Harrell's walk total. Who doesn't know about this guy? Anyway, Pedro Strop will pitch a simulated game and Taylor Teagarden could be activated from the disabled list, which would likely remove Chris Snyder from the 25-man roster, unless the Orioles have secret plans to carry three catchers. Strop threw two full bullpen sessions last week and did some drills off the mound that he didn't classify as an actual session. We also saw him field ground balls at shortstop and whip the ball to first base. Through it all, his back hasn't bothered him. "I feel a lot better," he said. "I threw a couple bullpens already and I don't feel any pain at all. The first one, I was a little bit afraid just thinking about it, but after a couple pitches and not feeling anything, I just kept throwing and I feel pretty good." Strop took off yesterday and won't throw today, but he's got the simulated game Tuesday and another bullpen session scheduled before the Orioles decide whether to send him on an injury-rehab assignment. They needed to send him off the 25-man roster after he allowed four runs and three hits, and walked three batters, in his last two appearances covering one inning to leave his ERA at 6.11. He's walked 14 batters in 17 2/3 innings this season. "I've been doing a lot of drills and watching a lot of videos and talking about some little things about my mechanics with Rick (Adair) and (Bill) Castro, and we've put some things together," Strop said. "I think it's been working pretty good, and I feel pretty good command-wise." Teagarden went 0-for-5 yesterday as Triple-A Norfolk's designated hitter after catching back-to-back games. He's 1-for-13 with two strikeouts on his injury-rehab assignment. The Orioles could choose to keep him on the assignment or activate him. Those are the choices. Snyder struck out twice, bunted into a force and walked yesterday in his fifth start with the Orioles since they acquired him from the Angels for minor league reliever Rob Delaney. He's 2-for-17 with an RBI. Teagarden is 0-for-13 with five strikeouts in four games. I'll let you do the math on the club's backup catchers. Snyder's value to the Orioles is similar to Teagarden's. It's the work behind the plate that matters most to them. In Snyder's case, his work in the video room with yesterday's starter, rookie Kevin Gausman, really seemed to pay off. "I called him in and we went over it together," Snyder said. "I think it's good. It's something I need to do anyway, but I think it's good for him, especially as a young guy coming up. Get a good feel for how all that stuff works and how you can utilize it, and hopefully come game time, it gives you a little bit of an edge. "He's asking questions, he's watching the games, he's paying attention, he's seeing what other guys do before him. I think the good thing is, he's been here now a week and a half, two weeks, so he's kind of settled in and it's slowed down for him a little bit. "He's been asking questions. This is my first stint in the American League, so I'm still trying to get a good feel for these guys, as well, but any information I can give him on guys I've played against in the past and what's worked and what hasn't worked, he's taking it all in. He's enjoying his time and living it up." Gausman turned in his best performance in three major league starts, allowing only one run - a Prince Fielder solo homer - and walking none in six innings. He managed to keep the ball down in the strike zone. "You throw 95 mph right down the middle, you can get away with it in college and get away with it in the minor leagues," Snyder said. "The boys up here will let you know it doesn't matter how hard you throw it. If you leave it over middle of the plate, it's going to get turned around."