masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles are waiting to make their corresponding roster move for pitcher Dylan Bundy, who starts tonight against the Mariners if the rain subsides.
Left-hander Donnie Hart would appear to be the obvious choice after replacing Mike Wright, who got the call as Bundy’s replacement for a few days. But anyone sent down must remain off the roster for 10 days. The Orioles couldn’t bring back Hart on Sept. 1, for example, when rosters expand.
Manager Buck Showalter would like to keep his bullpen…

The Orioles are waiting to make their corresponding roster move for pitcher Dylan Bundy, who starts tonight against the Mariners if the rain subsides.

Hart-Throws-White-Sidebar.jpgLeft-hander Donnie Hart would appear to be the obvious choice after replacing Mike Wright, who got the call as Bundy’s replacement for a few days. But anyone sent down must remain off the roster for 10 days. The Orioles couldn’t bring back Hart on Sept. 1, for example, when rosters expand.

Manager Buck Showalter would like to keep his bullpen intact.

Mark Trumbo is fine, physically. Tonight is a convenient opportunity to rest him, since he’s 1-for-20 lifetime against Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez.

“Just a day,” Showalter said. “Craig (Gentry) has been playing well. Defensively, we’re in good shape.”

Showalter also considered Gentry in center field and Adam Jones as the designated hitter. He doesn’t want to put Ryan Flaherty in the outfield and lose his utility infielder.

Double-A Bowie left-hander Tanner Scott is expected to remain in a starting role in the Arizona Fall League and beyond. He’s part of the Salt Lake roster that also includes pitchers Keegan Akin and Andrew Faulkner and infielders Ryan Mountcastle and Steve Wilkerson.

Two more players will be added later.

“I think they’re going to continue going down the starter thing,” Showalter said.

Scott, who must be added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft, is going to the AFL to build up his innings. He’s thrown 67 this summer.

“He missed a lot of time with that, oblique, was it? And they’re trying to make up some of those innings,” Showalter said.

“There was an innings count they wanted him to get to, and he’s not going to be able to get there without going to the fall league.”

One purpose of sending players to the AFL is to determine whether they should be protected in the Rule 5 draft. However, it also allows scouts from other teams to get another look and perhaps make a selection.

“It can work both ways with the Rule 5,” Showalter said.

Wilkerson, 25, seemed to come out of nowhere to grab the Orioles’ attention this summer. He batted .323/.407/.426 in 41 games at Single-A Frederick and .295/.357/.423 in 66 games at Bowie. An eighth-round pick in 2014 out of Clemson University, Wilkerson is a switch-hitter and plus runner who can move around the infield.

The Orioles came close a few times to selecting his contract with Flaherty and J.J. Hardy on the disabled list.

“I think the Wilkerson kid has come on. I’ve been impressed with him,” Showalter said. “It’s the first year that he’s really taken off hitting and at a high level.

“I like the idea that he can run. A good baserunner and really understands the game. Gary (Kendall) calls him a ‘winning player.'”

As for the status of tonight’s game, Showalter predicted an 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. start, if he were a betting man, but also left himself plenty of wiggle room. He could envision starting on time or the teams playing a doubleheader Wednesday, so stay tuned.

“I don’t know,” he said, “but from what I’ve seen, that’s an educated guess.”

For the Mariners
Jean Segura SS
Yonder Alonso 1B
Robinson Canó 2B
Nelson Cruz DH
Kyle Seager 3B
Danny Valencia RF
Ben Gamel LF
Mike Zunino C
Guillermo Heredia CF

Erasmo Ramírez RHP