masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAdam Jones wasn’t available to the media again today, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the center fielder’s left ankle has improved.
The MRI yesterday didn’t reveal any structural damage in the ankle, basically confirming the mild sprain shown on an X-ray.
Showalter won’t say whether Jones is available off the bench, not wanting to give the opposition a competitive advantage. That tells me Jones isn’t likey to play.
Jones could return to the lineup on Monday in Houston. In the…

Adam Jones wasn’t available to the media again today, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the center fielder’s left ankle has improved.

The MRI yesterday didn’t reveal any structural damage in the ankle, basically confirming the mild sprain shown on an X-ray.

Showalter won’t say whether Jones is available off the bench, not wanting to give the opposition a competitive advantage. That tells me Jones isn’t likey to play.

Jones could return to the lineup on Monday in Houston. In the meantime, he figures to avoid the disabled list.

“I think he’s close,” Showalter said.

Showalter added that he might push Jones, who hasn’t missed consecutive games since September 2011, if it were later in the season.

gausman-pitching-glasses-orange-sidebar.jpgKevin Gausman will throw a two-inning, 30-pitch, simulated game Tuesday in Houston. He will pitch for Single-A Frederick on Saturday in Wilmington, Del., in another rehab start and for Double-A Bowie on June 11.

Gausman will go four or five innings and throw 60-65 pitches with Bowie.

Catcher Matt Wieters’ schedule has changed. He will be behind the plate Tuesday night for Bud Norris’ start at Triple-A Norfolk. He originally was supposed to catch Monday at Frederick and Wednesday at Norfolk.

Wieters remains scheduled to make his 2015 debut for the Orioles on Friday in Cleveland.

Vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson is flying down to Sarasota today to check on Jonathan Schoop, Wesley Wright and Jason Garcia.

Here are the starters for the series against the Astros in Houston:

Monday: Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 3.14 ERA) vs. Brett Oberholtzer (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Tuesday: Mike Wright (2-0, 1.40 ERA) vs. Collin McHugh (5-2, 4.24 ERA)
Wednesday: Miguel Gonzalez (5-3, 3.48 ERA) vs. Lance McCullers (1-0, 2.40 ERA)
Thursday: Wei-Yin Chen (1-4, 3.21 ERA) vs. Dallas Keuchel (7-1, 1.76 ERA)