masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgTriple-A Norfolk pitcher Tyler Wilson walked through the Orioles clubhouse this morning with a huge smile on his face. He’s in the majors for the first time – sort of.
Wilson is on the taxi squad and the Orioles must decide by 8 p.m. Monday whether to put him on the 25-man roster or send him back to Norfolk. It depends whether Chris Tillman and Bud Norris are available to pitch next week and how much manager Buck Showalter needs his bullpen today with Mike Wright making his major league…

Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Tyler Wilson walked through the Orioles clubhouse this morning with a huge smile on his face. He’s in the majors for the first time – sort of.

wilson-tyler-throws-white-sidebar.jpgWilson is on the taxi squad and the Orioles must decide by 8 p.m. Monday whether to put him on the 25-man roster or send him back to Norfolk. It depends whether Chris Tillman and Bud Norris are available to pitch next week and how much manager Buck Showalter needs his bullpen today with Mike Wright making his major league debut.

The Orioles are off on Monday, which provides some recovery time.

Tillman’s lower back is feeling better and he hopes to start Tuesday night against the Mariners. Norris was sent home again last night while trying to rid himself of the bronchitis that forced him out of this weekend’s series against the Angels.

The uncertainty in the rotation won’t cause manager Buck Showalter to rush back Kevin Gausman, who’s on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. Gausman will throw on flat ground Monday and again later in the week, and also have a couple of bullpen sessions before pitching in a simulated game on May 27.

The Orioles could decide to skip the sim game and send Gausman on his injury rehab assignment.

Showalter paired up Wright with catcher Caleb Joseph, who’s more familiar with the right-hander. Joseph is in the lineup following a night game, but Showalter said the games haven’t been taxing.

Showalter said he won’t put Joseph and Matt Wieters in the lineup together unless he’s carrying a third catcher, which isn’t likely to happen before roster expansion in September.