masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter is sticking to his plan of starting Chris Davis in Sunday’s game against the Mets in Sarasota.
Davis campaigned for today’s game, which fell on his 32nd birthday, but he gets one more day in his recovery from a strained right elbow/forearm.
“He tried to talk me into playing today, but we have a plan and a process and we’ll stick to it until tomorrow,” Showalter said. “He’s going to do everything again today.”
Danny Valencia has been taking…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles manager Buck Showalter is sticking to his plan of starting Chris Davis in Sunday’s game against the Mets in Sarasota.

Davis campaigned for today’s game, which fell on his 32nd birthday, but he gets one more day in his recovery from a strained right elbow/forearm.

“He tried to talk me into playing today, but we have a plan and a process and we’ll stick to it until tomorrow,” Showalter said. “He’s going to do everything again today.”

Danny Valencia has been taking fly balls on the back fields and Showalter suggested a while ago that the veteran could get some reps in the middle infield.

“The last week we might do some things like that,” he said.

Wright-Delivers-White-Sidebar.jpgMike Wright Jr. gets the start today against the Blue Jays and Showalter said he’s just looking for “continued progress.”

“Obviously, this time of year you’d like to see guys start dialing in command of the fastball,” he said. “It’s that time of year when the lineups are more season-like and it’s a good test for him.”

Dylan Bundy opposes the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard Sunday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Chris Tillman opposes the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer Monday in Lakeland.

The Orioles will make at least one roster cut today. They’ve got 42 players in camp, but Showalter views it as 39 when including Zach Britton, Mark Trumbo and Gabriel Ynoa.

“We’re ready to start paring down,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of baseball here. Still got some time, but we’ve got nine or 10 days before we break camp.”

For the Blue Jays
Aledmys Díaz SS
Danny Espinosa 3B
Yangervis Solarte 2B
Justin Smoak 1B
Steve Pearce LF
Teoscar Hernández RF
Kevin Pillar DH
Luke Maile C
Roemon Fields CF

Joe Biagini RHP

Update: Wright allowed a run in the third inning to break a scoreless tie. Espinosa singled with two outs to score Fields. Wright gave up three hits in the inning and also walked a batter.

Update II: Adam Jones led off the ñottom of the fourth with his second home run of the spring to tie the game 1-1.

Update III: Fields lined a two-run triple into right-center field in the fifth after two singles and a balk to break a 1-1 tie. Fields beat Luis Sardinas’ throw home on Díaz’s grounder to increse the lead to 4-1.

Wright allowed four runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk, two strikeouts and a balk. Joely Rodriguez replaced him and retired Smoak on a fly ball to strand two runners.