NEW YORK - We've reached the final home game of Derek Jeter's career unless rain causes a postponement tonight and Major League Baseball decides to mess with the Orioles again by giving them another scheduling nightmare. Always room for one more, right? "Jeter's last home game. How long do you think we'll be here if there's rain?" manager Buck Showalter asked. "Get comfortable." I can't imagine that the game would be moved to Monday unless there are playoff implications such as home field advantage. The fact that it's Jeter's last game at Yankee Stadium isn't sufficient reason to bring back the Orioles next week. That would be quite a reach, and we all know that his range is diminished. Showalter intends to give his players Monday off before conducting workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday leading into Game 1 of the Division Series. Chris Tillman was chosen to start the opener, which came as no surprise. He's the ace of this staff, having allowed three earned runs or fewer in 20 consecutive starts. It's nice to have choices, and he was the obvious one. Tillman has come a long way from the pitcher who was relegated to the bullpen in the 2012 Division Series and didn't appear in a game. "The last two years he's reached 200 innings, right?" said shortstop J.J. Hardy. "He's been kind of our horse that hasn't missed starts. Goes out there every fifth day, and if he doesn't have his stuff that day, he finds a way to get through six or seven innings and gives us a chance to win. He's been doing that for the last two years." All five of the current starters - not counting sixth man Ubaldo Jimenez - have ERAs below 4.00. Wei-Yin Chen is a 16-game winner. Bud Norris won his 15th yesterday. "That's what everyone preaches in spring training, that the starting pitching has got to go deeper into ballgames. And this year, they've all been pretty impressive," Hardy said. "Then the bullpen on top of that is a totally different story." Different in that he's talking about relievers instead of starters. That unit also has been impressive. Showalter hasn't shed much light on his Division Series rotation beyond Tillman starting Game 1. Still waiting for confirmation on Chen for Game 2 and whether Miguel Gonzalez gets Game 3. Showalter did supply one nugget yesterday, confirming that he's leaning toward carrying 11 pitchers and taking an extra position player.

No matter the number, I still expected infielders Jimmy Paredes and Kelly Johnson to make it, since Chris Davis is down in Sarasota getting ready to play in the fall instructional league. It's just a question of which roles they fill, which could vary depending on the opposing starter. Johnson has started at second base the last two games. Is it related to Jonathan Schoop's slump or just a chance for Showalter to do a little evaluating? Having 14 position players would allow Showalter to carry an extra outfielder. But does he go with David Lough or Quintin Berry? Lough has been with the club all season. He's a plus-defender who, after a miserable first half (.197) at the plate, is batting .340 (18-for-53) in the second half. He hit .333 in August and is batting .333 in September. Lough has speed, but he's only 7-for-12 in stolen base attempts. Berry, meanwhile, is 30-for-30 in his major league career. Carrying a pinch-runner is a luxury, but it's more feasible with an expanded bench. Nelson Cruz is batting .383 this month. He hit .339 in May, but dipped to .215 in June, .211 in July and .216 in August. Staying this hot through the postseason would provide the Orioles with a huge lift. So, about that Division Series roster ... Catchers Caleb Joseph, Nick Hundley Infielders Steve Pearce, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Flaherty, Jonathan Schoop, Kelly Johnson, Jimmy Paredes Outfielders Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz, Alejandro De Aza, Delmon Young, David Lough/Quintin Berry Which player would you remove? Someone has to get bumped on an 11-man pitching staff. Tillman, Chen, Gonzalez and Norris figure to be the four starters. Does Kevin Gausman move to the bullpen? If so, who comes out of it? Showalter likes having T.J. McFarland as a left-handed long man to back up the right-handed starters. Brad Brach has been valuable in a variety of roles, including right-handed long man, though Gausman could take over those duties or be another power arm later in the game. Does Andrew Miller's presence in the bullpen impact Brian Matusz? Opponents are batting .191 against Matusz in the second half. He's allowed three earned runs in 21 1/3 innings over the past three months. Talk about flying under the radar. If you predicted back in March that Chen and Norris each would have more wins this season than Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez and Chris Sale, we need to hang out.