masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Bud Norris makes his fifth start of the spring today and his second against a division opponent. He allowed four runs in one inning against the Red Sox in his Grapefruit League debut.
Norris has surrendered 12 earned runs and 13 total in 11 2/3 innings. He has walked nine batters and struck out nine.
With Orioles manager Buck Showalter not hiding Norris from the Rays today, should we assume that the right-hander won’t face them in the season-opening series at Tropicana Field?…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Bud Norris makes his fifth start of the spring today and his second against a division opponent. He allowed four runs in one inning against the Red Sox in his Grapefruit League debut.

Norris has surrendered 12 earned runs and 13 total in 11 2/3 innings. He has walked nine batters and struck out nine.

norris-pitching-front-gray-sidebar.jpgWith Orioles manager Buck Showalter not hiding Norris from the Rays today, should we assume that the right-hander won’t face them in the season-opening series at Tropicana Field? Or is Showalter making an exception?

I’ve been projecting Norris as the third starter behind Chris Tillman and Wei-Yin Chen. Stay tuned.

Nolan Reimold is leading off and playing left field today. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate.

The bullpen includes Zach Britton, T.J. McFarland, Ryan Webb, Logan Verrett and Chaz Roe.

Rain is supposed to be heaviest today around first pitch, putting the Rays in a holding pattern back in Port Charlotte. They’re taking batting practice and waiting to find out whether they should board the bus for the trip up I-75 north.

For the Orioles
Nolan Reimold LF
Steve Pearce RF
Adam Jones CF
Delmon Young DH
Chris Davis 1B
J.J. Hardy SS
Manny Machado 3B
Caleb Joseph C
Jonathan Schoop 2B

Bud Norris RHP

For the Rays
David DeJesus RF
Rene Rivera DH
John Jaso LF
Ben Francisco 1B
Steven Souza CF
Alexi Casilla 3B
Tim Beckham 2B
Jake Elmore SS
Bobby Wilson C

Everett Teaford LHP