masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFORT MYERS, Fla. – Tyler Wilson came off the field in the sixth inning today and hugged Mike Wright.
Competitors for a spot in the rotation, close friends to the end.
Wright allowed one run in five innings in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Red Sox, and Wilson followed with two scoreless frames.
A decision is pending and it won’t be an easy one. Manager Buck Showalter said they’re both starter candidates, though Wilson was shortened up today and could pitch again this spring.
“Wally (Dave…

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Tyler Wilson came off the field in the sixth inning today and hugged Mike Wright.

Competitors for a spot in the rotation, close friends to the end.

Wright allowed one run in five innings in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Red Sox, and Wilson followed with two scoreless frames.

A decision is pending and it won’t be an easy one. Manager Buck Showalter said they’re both starter candidates, though Wilson was shortened up today and could pitch again this spring.

“Wally (Dave Wallace) was talking about bringing him back in a couple days,” Showalter said. “He could fit a lot of roles, but right now we’re looking at him as a possible starter until we know what’s going on with Gaus (Kevin Gausman).”

Gausman threw from 90 feet today. He’s headed to the disabled list and the Orioles are hoping he can start on April 10. In the meantime, Wright and Wilson are pushing to head north with the club, making Miguel Gonzalez’s start Tuesday night against the Braves even more important.

“It’s not if, it’s when with them because they’ve both got a chance to be good pitchers in the big leagues,” Showalter said after his club improved to 10-14-4 and ran its winning streak to five games.

“We’re just trying to put our arms around everything and make sure we … They’ve done their part. They’ve had good springs. I’m proud of them.

wright-pitching-front-white sidebar.jpg“Mike was good. So were Tyler and Mychal Givens. It’s a really tough environment to pitch in. It’s a really good test for starting pitching and Mike handled it well. I thought he did well. I was impressed. The wind blowing out, sticky hot, a really good lineup, last home game for them. You know everybody’s trying to impress and make the club. I’m proud of both of them.”

Wright lowered his ERA to 4.79 in 20 2/3 innings. He blanked the Red Sox after Chris Young’s home run in the second and retired the last five batters.

“It’s very good,” Wright said. “This is my last start of the spring, so for it to go pretty well is positive going into the season.”

Where this leaves both pitchers is “still up to them,” Wright said. “I went out there and did my best every game I started. I executed pitches like I’ve never done before. I hope that leaves a really good taste in their mouths, but Wilson, he’s done well all (spring), too.

“I think we both deserve a spot, but we’ll see. Like I said, it’s up to them.”

For the first time, Wright has made it through an entire spring training. He won’t pitch again before the Orioles break camp.

There were noticeable differences in Wright, the former third-round pick in 2011 out of East Carolina University.

“I think it’s because this is my fourth year,” he said. “I had some experience last year. Last year, I opened up some eyes, so it was good to get the opportunity to stay the whole spring. I definitely came in more confident. I felt like I should be here, not like in year’s past when I knew it was just an experience thing. I was actually here to compete.”

Also, to share rides with Wilson on road trips, as they did again today, and to root for each other, no matter the consequences.

“Yeah, for sure,” Wright said. “We’re out here competing. We’re friends. He’s doing well right now. I was in there watching him. He’s executing pitches just as good as I am, so that’s positive to see.”

They had lots to talk about on I-75.

“It was really chatty,” Wright said, smiling. “We talked about some good stuff today.”

They said it wouldn’t get weird and it never did.

“Mike and I go back so far back,” Wilson said. “That’s a topic for you guys to write about and for people to speculate. That’s not a part of our relationship. We pull for each other like we said however many times. We separate that part of our lives when it comes down to our relationship.

“He dealt today. He threw great. I was fired up to see him, and I gave him a big hug afterward when I came in for the sixth. I’m sure he’d say the same exact thing, so it makes for good conversation on the way over here when you’re good friends and just kind of have fun and not feel like you’re riding with somebody you’re rooting against. We have a good time together, and it’s fun to be in competition with somebody that you care about.”

Wilson’s alma mater, the University of Virginia, wasn’t off limits after night’s loss in the Midwest Region final of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

“That’s a sore subject, but I had to throw a few jabs in there,” Wright said. “But there’s not much I can say. EC has no basketball team, basically.”

“Too soon,” Wilson said, shaking his head.

Today’s outing came at a good time, leaving Wilson in the hunt for a rotation spot despite going two innings. He allowed two hits and struck out one.

“I felt great today,” he said. “It’s a good experience to get ups and downs in the bullpen as far as coming in the game. I know I had experience like that last year, maybe five appearances out of the ‘pen, maybe four. I’d never done it before, so it’s always good to have that experience in spring training.

“I felt really good today. I felt strong. I feel like I’m recovering well from one outing to the next, not having the full five days because it’s in the bullpen situation, so it’s nice to know. It’s nice to have that feeling with your body. You don’t really know how it’s going to respond until you have that experience, so I felt really good.”

Wilson, who’s sporting a 2.51 ERA in 14 1/3 innings, isn’t offering any predictions on whether he’s made the club. The Orioles could put him in the bullpen on opening day with Gausman going on the disabled list. They could give him a start if Gausman isn’t ready on April 10. He could immediately go into Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation.

Tyler Wilson back gray.jpg“That’s not my call, that’s not my call,” he said. “I think we’re putting a good product on the field. Guys are playing really hard as you can see this last week. It’s come together well, and that’s really exciting to see. A lot of guys are throwing the ball really well and obviously swinging the bats well, so I’m sure it’s going to be a tough decision, but that’s why they’re in the position they are and everybody trusts that they’ll make the right choice.”

Wilson said he can transition easily to a relief role, as he did again this afternoon, but he’s also gotten enough work to be a starter.

“Sure,” he said. “It’s not like I’ve been throwing back-to-back days or anything like that. We’ve been able to get side work in. In between outings, it’s just a matter of abbreviating things. It’s kind of experimenting to see how I respond, how my body reacts to not having that full five days, but sure, I think I could go out and start if need be.”

A full spring training also benefitted Wilson, who got more work and reminded the Orioles why they think so highly of him.

“This spring has been great and I love to talk about the relationships with the guys and being able to spend time in the locker room,” Wilson said. “I think it’s extremely important because all great teams have great team chemistry, and I think it’s important to be a part of that, so I’m thankful for that amount of time that I’ve spent with the guys and I think that that’s something that’s going to pay dividends down the line.”

Nolan Reimold walked, homered, had an RBI single and stole a base, giving him eight hits in his last four games. He’s hit three home runs in that span and raised his average to .280.

Reimold is trying to make the club while the Orioles consider outside options for the outfield. The Red Sox released David Murphy today. The Orioles are reportedly interested in the Pirates’ Matt Joyce. Reimold is swinging a hot bat and hoping to cool the speculation.

“It was a good day for him,” Showalter said. “His last probably five days he’s been swinging the bat pretty well and reminding us of what he’s capable of when he’s healthy. That’s good. But if you get to this point and one pitch or one swing is going to change you completely …

“For me, there’s not a bunch of ties right now where one little thing is going to sway it. If that’s the case, you’re not a good evaluator.”

The camp roster stands at 41 players, so there’s still lots of work to be done.

“Three of them are DL,” Showalter said, referencing Gausman, reliever Brian Matusz and infielder Jimmy Paredes. “That’s easy. One of them there, that’s 36. Not bad.

“We’ll be doing most of it, as you all know, probably in the workout on Sunday. We’re not going to come out of here with 25. I can tell you that. I’d like to.”