Wilson back on the bump to close homestand

The Orioles wrap up their homestand today and board their charter for Anaheim for the start of a three-city road trip that also includes stops in Houston and Cleveland.

The 12:35 p.m. starting time is greatly appreciated in the Orioles clubhouse. Something finally makes sense with their schedule.

Tyler Wilson isn't on a set schedule. His last start also came in a day game on May 11 in Minnesota. He was available in the bullpen Sunday, didn't pitch and got word that he'd make today's start.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wanted to keep other starters on their regular turns, including Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman, who pitched the first two games of this series against the Mariners.

Wilson worked on six days' rest in his start at Target Field and held the Twins to two runs in seven innings. He's on seven days' rest today.

"I think as of right now given the way the schedule has fallen with the rain and being able to push guys back, and we've had some conveniently scheduled off-days, it's been a luxury to be able to give guys like Tilly and Ubie and Gaus (Kevin Gausman), whoever it is, to get them back out there on their fifth day and keep them there. And that way it gives us an option deeper in the bullpen and gives us an extra arm out in the bullpen and allows us to have more options," Wilson said.

"Like I told you guys before, I'm totally cool with what needs to be done. I know that once we start making up these games here later in the season and those off-days are few and far between, it's going to be a luxury to have been able to get spread out and have a little bit more rest in between starts for everybody. Being able to save the bullpen, being able to take starters and give them that extra day of rest, like in this given situation.

"Obviously, there's a reason behind it and I think we're just trying to maximize the opportunity and make the best out of a bad situation with the rain and everything."

Wilson has stayed busy despite not pitching.

"When I found out and we decided those guys were going to come back on their normally scheduled days, which is kind of what everybody had expected, I guess, I threw a bullpen after the game on Sunday and that probably would have been my normally scheduled day to throw," Wilson said.

"It doesn't really change a whole lot. I had a bigger work day (yesterday) and a lighter day (today) and just be ready to go."

Wilson made his major league debut against the Mariners, allowing two hits in a scoreless relief inning on May 20, 2015. He threw only eight pitches.

Wilson was the fourth pitcher used that day after starter Wei-Yin Chen worked seven innings, T.J. McFarland two-thirds and Tommy Hunter one-third. Seth Smith and Brad Miller singled and Robinson Cano grounded into a double play.

Mariners right-hander Nathan Karns is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA in seven starts this season and has posted four consecutive quality starts, allowing seven runs in 25 2/3 innings during that stretch.

In his career, Karns is 5-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 21 home starts and 6-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) on the road. Go figure.

Karns is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts versus the Orioles. In his only appearance at Camden Yards, he held the Orioles to one run over six innings on May 29, 2015 while pitching for the Rays.

The current Orioles are 6-for-35 against Karns. Adam Jones is 3-for-9 with a double, Chris Davis is 2-for-6 with a home run and Manny Machado is 0-for-9.

Here are some leftover notes from last night:

* Tillman tied Hal Brown for 14th place on the Orioles all-time wins list with 62.
* Zach Britton passed Jorge Julio for fifth place on the saves list with 84.
* Machado has started 200 consecutive games.
* Matt Wieters made his 700th career start last night, the fourth Orioles catcher to accomplish the feat, joining Rick Dempsey (1,074), Chris Hoiles (776) and Gus Triandos (721).
* Joey Rickard has reached base in 11 straight games.