The Pirates scored an unearned run in the seventh against Jim Johnson, which was set up by a Matt Wieters throwing error. Wieters got the run back in the eighth with a RBI single and the Orioles added another unearned run in the ninth.
Opening Day consideration?
Brian Matusz is now slated to pitch Friday against Detroit, which pushes Jake Arrieta to Saturday in Bradenton versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. And that sets Arrieta up to pitch Opening Day , April 6 on five-days' rest.
If the current rotation follows suit, then Wei-Yin Chen would pitch the second game of the regular season and Jason Hammel would be on-line for the third game. Showalter has not announced his Opening Day starter or his rotation order yet.
Around the horn
Matt Lindstrom and Kevin Gregg each threw two innings in a minor league game Monday at Twin Lakes Park. They were there to pitch a little longer than they would have been able to in a big-league exhibition game. Showalter said they both pitched well with Lindstrom hitting 98 mph with his fastball. … How Tsuyoshi Wada does in his first start Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins will help determine whether the Orioles are still looking at Alfredo Simon as a potential rotation candidate, Showalter said. Simon (groin) has not pitched in a game since March 18, but threw a bullpen session Sunday. … Paulino will be away from the team Tuesday to undergo a minor medical procedure.
