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There’s not much time left for people on the fringes of the Orioles roster picture to make their case. At least a couple of them will be getting their time to shine, or burn out, on a televised MLB Network spring training game against the Twins on Friday night.
Fifth starter candidate Mike Wright is the biggest of these, though he will have to ply his trade while pitching to an outfield that includes Pedro Alvarez, so it’s fair to say it’s not the best of circumstances for him to do his thing. Not that he’s made the most of any chances where he did have the best of circumstances up until now.
Ryan Flaherty returns to the Orioles lineup for the first time in a while. Seth Smith remains absent, as he has since March 8. It may be time to wonder whether this opens the door for Aneury Tavarez - tonight’s center fielder - for at least a little while.
- Ryan Flaherty - 2B
- Paul Janish - SS
- Pedro Alvarez - RF
- Trey Mancini - 1B
- Hyun Soo Kim - LF
- Chris Johnson - 3B
- Chance Sisco - DH
- Caleb Joseph - C
- Aneury Tavarez - CF
Vidal Nuno and Logan Verrett are also scheduled to pitch after Wright.
This is still a very “road spring training game” lineup that bears no resemblance to one that will take the field in the regular season, not even in some kind of Dave Trembley-esque Sunday forfeit lineup. But it’s less than a week from now that the Grapefruit League will be over. Time to work out the kinks is almost over.