masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgA final decision hasn’t been made, but I’d expect the Orioles to schedule a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees in August. I’ll pass along the makeup date once it’s available. Hold onto those tickets.

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Chris Tillman is being skipped in the rotation because of “right groin issues” that surfaced during the pitcher’s last start.

“We’ll take this opportunity to try to clear that up,” Showalter said. “It looks like we’ll stay in line…A final decision hasn’t been made, but I’d expect the Orioles to schedule a day-night doubleheader against the Yankees in August. I’ll pass along the makeup date once it’s available. Hold onto those tickets.

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Chris Tillman is being skipped in the rotation because of “right groin issues” that surfaced during the pitcher’s last start.

“We’ll take this opportunity to try to clear that up,” Showalter said. “It looks like we’ll stay in line before everybody else, but don’t hold me to that with the off-day (on Monday).

“He’s had it a couple times. He felt OK, good enough to pitch on Sunday, but now that we’ve got this opportunity to clean it up … we’ve been talking about it. Get it all the way taken care of.

“He could pitch out of the bullpen during that period. It’s Saturday of next week before we need a fifth guy.”

Tillman felt mild discomfort in a previous start, and it worsened on Monday when he slipped and fell while fielding a ball and making the throw to first base, and when he had to make another play behind the mound.

Tillman threw yesterday and was cleared to make Sunday’s start, which eliminated the need to bring up a pitcher – apparently left-hander Mike Ballard – from Triple-A Norfolk. The postponement changed Tillman’s schedule.

It also changed mine. I’m packing up and heading home.