Chris Tillman

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman went five innings and allowed one unearned run in his final spring start Friday, a 6-1 exhibition win over the State College of Florida. Tillman, who was placed on the disabled list with abdominal soreness, said he supported the Orioles decision to place him there to start the season. “It is what it is," Tillman. "I was hurt. I did miss an amount of time enough time to not get ready for one of the early games. I don't disagree with it. " Tillman, who threw 81 pitches against SCF on Friday, allowed one unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Right-hander Jake Arrieta came into spring camp as one of a host of candidates for an open spot in the Orioles' starting rotation.  There was no question is his mind, though, on who would win the competition: Him. “No, absolutely not. Whether that's cockiness or overconfidence, whatever you want to call it. that's just the way that I personally had to approach the situation, with that mindset," he said. "Knowing that I had to go out and actually show it and not just know it in my mind.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter spent much of Friday afternoon telling players who will and won't be making the club's 25-man roster - leaving him with only one decision remaining. Steve Pearce and Conor Jackson are still battling to be the final first base-outfield reserve on the club's 2013 roster. Otherwise, things are set for Tuesday's season opener, with right-hander Jake Arrieta winning the final rotation spot, lefties Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland added to an eight-man bullpen and infielder-outfielder Ryan Flaherty capturing a utility role.

The Orioles made a move Thursday night that likely solved their Opening Day roster logjam - for a few days, anyway. Right-hander Chris Tillman was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left abdominal strain, retroactive to March 22, the earliest date a transaction can be backdated this spring. That means Tillman is eligible to come off the DL on April 6 and pitch the fifth game of the season against the Minnesota Twins. It also means the Orioles have an extra roster spot to play with for the first four days of the season, which likely will allow Rule 5 left-hander T.J. McFarland and infielder Ryan Flaherty - two players who have been on the roster bubble since camp opened - to make the club.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles' clouded roster picture became a lot clearer Wednesday with a couple obvious proclamations, one health setback and a top prospect heading to Double-A. Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced his rotation for the opening series of the regular season at the Tampa Bay Rays next week. There were no surprises. Right-hander Jason Hammel - who emerged as the team's top starter in last year's first half before dealing with a knee issue that eventually required surgery - will make the first Opening Day start of his career Tuesday.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Before Tuesday's game, the Orioles reassigned outfielder Lew Ford to minor league camp, cutting the spring roster to 37 players, which included nine non-roster invitees. After Monday's injury to designated hitter Wilson Betemit, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said that “some of the dynamics changed” in forming the 25-man Opening Day roster. That means that when whittling down the mix of reserve players, players who can play first base as well as outfield have a better chance of making the team, because Betemit could have served as a backup first baseman.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Standing on the mound at Ed Smith Stadium on Monday afternoon, with 30 mph winds swirling around him and ESPN cameras capturing his every move, Orioles left-hander T.J. McFarland was the perfect picture of calm. Sitting in an office chair in Bedford Park, Ill., huddled over an MLB.com video feed that wouldn't work, Tim McFarland wasn't exactly as collected as his 23-year-old son. "I'm the only one that didn't watch it live on ESPN. I had the MLB feed at the office and the damn thing went out two pitches into the first batter.

After throwing 62 pitches over four innings against Orioles minor leaguers Sunday, right-hander Chris Tillman said he could have continued to add to his pitch count, and still thinks he will be ready for the regular season. “It went really good,” Tillman said. “It went well. I got to work on everything. Everything was there. Command was really good. I'm really happy with it. “I feel like I'm ready to go. I asked [Orioles pitching coach] Rick [Adair] if I could get up a time or two more yesterday and he said no, obviously trying to protect me. I would have liked to. I felt good.

Much has been made - yes, by me as well as others - on the Orioles' vacant fifth starter spot. It really is one of the only interesting battles in camp. The way I see it, Jake Arrieta has made the team and the rotation with a good spring. But there is a possibility that Arrieta isn't the fifth starter. There's an outside shot he could be the fourth starter. Or even the third starter. I know, it's confusing. Stay with me. The Orioles would like to keep 23-year-old lefty T.J. McFarland, but he must stay on the roster all season or be offered back to the Cleveland Indians.

In an attempt to lessen their glut of big league pitchers, the Orioles have contacted teams to let them know veteran right-handed reliever Luis Ayala is available in a trade, according to an industry source. It's unclear exactly what the Orioles are looking for in return, but the club is interested in adding players with minor league options that don't necessarily have to be placed on the 40-man roster. Its biggest need is catching depth behind starter Matt Wieters and oft-injured reserve Taylor Teagarden.