SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles' rotation picture got a little clearer on Wednesday, when manager Buck Showalter announced that Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez will start the second and third games of the season.
Showalter also said they will not rush Kevin Gausman (right shoulder tendinitis) to return, and they are hoping he can pitch on April 19. That means the O's will have to break camp with five starters, with a fifth starter needed on April 10.
Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson are thought to be the best bets to head north as the initial fifth starter, though Vance Worley is also a candidate still in camp. Had Gausman been ready quicker, the Orioles could have headed to Baltimore with four starters and activated him off the DL on April 10. Players like Wright and Wilson will have to be on the Opening Day roster, because they would otherwise need to be in the Minors for 10 days before being eligible for a callup.
The O's also whittled their spring roster to 38 by releasing Miguel Gonzalez and reassigning catcher Audry Perez to Minor League camp.