BALTIMORE -- Since their game vs. Texas was rained out on April 17, the Orioles were anticipating that Sunday would be a long day as they travel to Arlington for a makeup game on Monday. But April 9's rainout against Tampa Bay, which will see the two clubs play a doubleheader on Saturday, makes this week one of the toughest -- and most unusual -- schedules in recent memory for Baltimore.
Kevin Gausman will start vs. the Rangers, and the O's will leave their three other starting pitchers behind in Baltimore for a workout Monday at Camden Yards. About 10 members of the typical traveling staff -- including coaches, trainers, etc. -- will not go to Arlington.
"That's the problem with rainouts," manager Buck Showalter said of the looming week. "Everyone goes, 'OK, we kind of got a day off, mental, emotional.' But you kind of pay the piper. Our guys have gotten to the point -- they know it, too. They are mature about it. They know, 'Hey, we got to stay here 'til 9 o'clock to start this. Let's do it.' Because you are going to pay that price. We are fortunate, because the way we scheduled [Saturday], we have an off-day before it and an off-day after it. But we are still going to have an issue on Wednesday [with needing a starter]."
To make things even more complicated, the Orioles are playing with a 24-man roster for four days, starting Sunday, due to Manny Machado's suspension. Machado won't be at Camden Yards on Monday, but he will work out elsewhere, according to Showalter.
"As soon as that last pitch is thrown in Texas, we will spend three hours on the plane getting ready for San Diego," Showalter said of the third of four different opponents this week.