Whether Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman will be able to make his next scheduled start Thursday against the Washington Nationals is in question following a setback during his between-starts work day on Tuesday.
Manager Buck Showalter said Tillman's work day "did not go well," prompting more concerns about his discomfort in his right throwing shoulder that forced him to skip a start last week. Showalter said the club would make a decision by Wednesday whether Tillman can start Thursday at Nationals Park.
"I would assume that," Showalter said when asked if Tillman's shoulder was the issue. "We'll see. It's that time of the year."
Tillman was scheduled to be examined by Ravens team physician Dr. Leigh Ann Curl on Wednesday, Showalter said.
"We'll have a better idea then," Showalter said. "We'd have to make some plans on what we would do if he didn't pitch [Thursday]."
Tillman struggled in his last start Saturday against Houston _ an outing that came following a week off to allow him to rest his shoulder. He was unable to make it out of the third inning while allowing six runs on six hits and five walks in a 12-2 loss to the Astros.
Following the game, Tillman said he has no physical issues, instead blaming control issues for his poor outing.
His results said otherwise. Tillman was pulled four batters into the third inning after failing to get an out. Tillman opened the frame hitting Evan Gattis with a pitch, then issued three consecutive walks before exiting the game.
"That's the big positive coming out of this _ probably the only positive you can find," Tillman said then. "I felt good. Just couldn't command the baseball."
Tillman has been the anchor of a meandering Orioles' starting rotation, going 15-5 with a 3.76 ERA. But he has lost three of his last four starts and owns a 6.66 ERA over his last five outings.
If Tillman can't pitch Thursday, the Orioles could summon a spot starter from the minors. Right-hander Mike Wright is scheduled to start Thursday for Triple-A Norfolk. They could also recall right-hander Tyler Wilson from Triple-A before serving his mandatory 10 days in the minors following an option, as long as he's added as part of a DL move. And depending on how much the bullpen is taxed over the next few days, the team could tab one of its long relievers _ Vance Worley or Ubaldo Jimenez _ to start.
