PITTSBURGH - The Orioles begin tonight's game against the Pirates with four rookies in their lineup - center fielder Austin Hays, left fielder Trey Mancini, catcher Chance Sisco and Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander, who's starting in right field.

An all-rookie outfield? Doesn't happen every night.

We go back to the balancing act between putting your best foot forward and evaluating younger players who might be part of the opening day roster in 2018.

"It depends how you define 'best foot forward,'" said manager Buck Showalter. "Maybe our best foot forward is looking at some of these guys for long-term and short-term. Believe me, these guys have been posting up every day. I think everybody you see here will play at some point in the next five games.

"It's not any message other than we've got, what, 45 innings barring extra innings to look at certain things. We know we're not going to get rained out in Tampa and we need to make good use of that and also not put somebody in harm's way that doesn't need to be."

Pedro Álvarez is back in Pittsburgh for the first time since signing with the Orioles in spring training 2016. He probably won't get a start in the two-game series with National League rules excluding the designated hitter, but he could come off the bench.

"It feels good," he said. "Obviously, this is a place where I came here every day and I started my career here, so it's good to come back and see all these guys. Good to see all the staff, from the security guards to everybody that were so instrumental in helping me and my family out."

The Pirates made Álvarez the second-overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Vanderbilt University. He's accustomed to being on the home side at PNC Park, but a September call-up enabled him to make the trip with the Orioles.

"Different vantage point, different dugout now," he said. "I obviously had a lot of good moments with these guys here. A lot of these guys are still here. Some are gone. For the most part that's what you remember. You leave a team, you remember the good memories you had with your teammates and not even so much the success, but the good memories and just the comradery we had as teammates."

Asked what stands out during his six seasons with the Pirates, Álvarez replied, "There's a bunch. I think for the most part just playing the type of baseball we played when we were here, the tight races every year with St. Louis and Cincinnati. Those couple games against the Cardinals before the All-Star break a couple years ago. Obviously, those are two games that I think shocked the baseball world the way those games ended, so those are examples that kind of stick to me."

Álvarez has found Camden Yards to be a nicer fit than PNC Park.

"I think statistically this ballpark is a little bit more pitcher friendly, so obviously there's that," he said. "I think Camden is a little bit more forgiving for hitters. But two beautiful ballparks."

Harbor Park in Norfolk served as Álvarez's summer home. He adjusted the opt-out date in his contract, never got a call from another team and waited until the Orioles expanded their roster. The outfield experiment came to an end and he primarily was used at first base and as the Tides' designated hitter.

"I started the year down there playing right field," he said. "Learned the position, so working on that. Just working on the versatility of my game, playing different positions. Just glad to be up here now and to be able to be given the opportunity to help this team out anyway possible."

The Pirates non-tendered Álvarez in December 2015 after he batted .236/.309/.441 in six seasons with 131 home runs and 401 RBIs. He moved across the diamond in his final season after breaking in as a third baseman.

"I believe that everything happens for a reason and everything that transpires to the point to where you got to this moment helps you grow as a person and as a player. Depending on how you take it all in and perceive it," he said.

"As a player, obviously, I'm never satisfied. I always want to do the best I can and continue to grow, continue to get better. So, in that aspect, no, I'm not satisfied, only because I want to continue to improve every day I get the opportunity to wear this uniform. And as long as I'm given an opportunity help the team, that's my objective."

Álvarez never lived up to the expectations that accompanied his draft status, though his 36 home runs in 2013 tied for the National League lead. Perhaps they were too heavy too soon.

"No one can put more expectations on myself than myself," he said. "Some people have that belief, but I know for a fact I always tried to do the best I can. In terms of pressure, all that stuff is external. I try to worry about what I can do, what I can control and the attitude and effort I put forward to improve my game and that's always what's matter to me and that's what's always going to matter to me."

Playing for Showalter was one of the attractions for Álvarez as he signed another minor league deal in the spring.

"It's been a good experience," he said. "The knowledge that he has for the game, he knows the game so well. To be able to be managed by a manager like that, it's an honor, it's a privilege. We've got a great group of guys here. From Day One they made me feel like I've been on the team for 10 years, so that always helps.

"Buck's a great manager to play for. Obviously, he just wants everybody to play the game the right way and as long as you do that, you're doing right by him."

The Orioles may not bring back Álvarez next season, but Showalter expects him to land a job.

"I still think he's going to be a contributor to a major league team next year," Showalter said. "He's gone about it real diligently. He's played some first, right and third and DHed and he's trying to present himself as an option at different places. He has plenty of arm strength, he has plenty of athleticism. Just someone's got to give him a chance."

Update: Run-scoring doubles by Andrew McCutchen and Josh Bell in the first inning gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Gausman committed an error on a pickoff throw, but both runs were earned.

Update II: McCutchen hit his first career grand slam in the second inning to give Pittsburgh a 6-0 lead.

Update III: Chris Davis hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth and Andrew McCutchen responded with a three-run shot off Jimmy Yacabonis in the bottom half that gave Pittsburgh a 10-1 lead. McCutchen has eight RBIs.