masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The games count starting today.
No more Grapefruit League statistics and starters leaving early and interviews taking place outside the clubhouse before the final out. No more players busing over from minor league camp. No more Puerto Rico Development Program.
Chris Tillman gets the opening day assignment for the second consecutive season, and it’s assumed that he won’t have a contract extension in his back pocket unless negotiations really heated up overnight. The…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The games count starting today.

No more Grapefruit League statistics and starters leaving early and interviews taking place outside the clubhouse before the final out. No more players busing over from minor league camp. No more Puerto Rico Development Program.

Chris Tillman gets the opening day assignment for the second consecutive season, and it’s assumed that he won’t have a contract extension in his back pocket unless negotiations really heated up overnight. The sides were far apart the last time I checked.

tillman-pitching-orange-sidebar.jpgHere’s another reminder that Tillman has two more years of arbitration eligibility. He’s not listed among the 11 pending free agents. It’s not a huge deal that he doesn’t have a new deal.

Tillman was 8-1 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 road starts last season, and 5-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 18 home starts. So, was he better at Camden Yards or away from it?

Tillman is 4-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 14 career starts against the Rays and 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts at Tropicana Field, where it’s always a cozy 72 degrees. He posted a 5.29 ERA last season in seven starts with Caleb Joseph behind the plate.

Evan Longoria is 13-for-33 (.394) with two doubles, five home runs and seven RBIs lifetime against Tillman. Desmond Jennings is 2-for-20 (.100) and James Loney is 3-for-22 (.136) with a home run.

Chris Archer is the Rays’ replacement opening day starter with Alex Cobb on the disabled list with right forearm tendinitis. He’s 1-2 with a 5.76 ERA in five appearances (four starts) against the Orioles.

Jonathan Schoop is expected to start at second base, with Everth Cabrera at shortstop, but I should point out that Ryan Flaherty is 4-for-9 with two doubles lifetime against Archer. Schoop and Cabrera have never faced him.

Remember when most of us were convinced that the Orioles couldn’t carry Schoop, Cabrera and Flaherty on the opening day roster? That one of them would be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk?

Manny Machado is 4-for-10 against Archer, and Steve Pearce is 1-for-2 with a home run. Adam Jones is 1-for-11 with four strikeouts.

J.J. Hardy is 4-for-11 with two doubles and Matt Wieters is 4-for-12, but they’re on the disabled list.

Give me your lineup before I post the real one and let me know whether you’ve got Alejandro De Aza leading off and Cabrera batting ninth.

Does Pearce bat second or Machado? Pearce may move down with Chris Davis serving the last game of his suspension.

I’ll assume that Pearce is starting at first base, Travis Snider is in right field and Delmon Young is the designated hitter. The current roster includes only two bench players, but Ryan Lavarnway will be added as a third catcher.