masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter may allow infielder Jonathan Schoop to play today instead of waiting until later this week.

Showalter talked about giving Schoop the day off, but he could be persuaded to change his mind. Schoop told reporters this morning that he was ready to play after flying back to Florida early this morning from the World Baseball Classic.

“If he wants to play today, I’m going to play him,” Showalter said. “I’m going to talk to him. We’ll see. In that…SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter may allow infielder Jonathan Schoop to play today instead of waiting until later this week.

Showalter talked about giving Schoop the day off, but he could be persuaded to change his mind. Schoop told reporters this morning that he was ready to play after flying back to Florida early this morning from the World Baseball Classic.

“If he wants to play today, I’m going to play him,” Showalter said. “I’m going to talk to him. We’ll see. In that plate appearance thing, he’s about three or four behind. I’ll talk to him and see how he feels.

“He would have gotten a lot of playing time here, but he got a lot of playing time there and it was a great experience for him. We’re proud of him. People were raving about him there.”

Reliever Pedro Strop, a key contributor to the victorious Dominican Republic team, won’t pitch for the Orioles before Saturday.

Chris Tillman, who threw three innings yesterday at Twin Lakes Park, could work on three days’ rest in his next outing.

“He feels great,” Showalter said. “You can tell looking at him.”

Nolan Reimold is playing left field and Adam Jones is back in center for the first time since March 1. Nick Markakis, who hasn’t played since March 1 because of a herniated disc in his neck, is feeling good today.

“We’ve got a chance to have a good day on a lot of fronts,” Showalter said.

Reimold threw yesterday and today without any discomfort in his right shoulder, which allowed Showalter to write his name in the lineup in left field.

“It’s time,” Showalter said.

Wei-Yin Chen is listed as Saturday’s starter against the Philadelphia Phillies in Sarasota. Chen went five innings Monday in a Single-A game at Twin Lakes Park.

Chen and Jason Hammel could pitch either Wednesday or Thursday in a noon minor league game at Ed Smith Stadium, before the Orioles play night games on their home field.