Pre-game: Tillman (4-2) vs. Rodriguez (0-2)

Game: Orioles (23-20) at Pirates (18-26)

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Site: PNC Park

TV, radio: Root Sports, KDKA-FM 93.7

Weather: Not great, Bob

Here is audio of Clint Hurdle's meeting with the media.

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Jason Grilli threw another 20-pitch simulated game and said he felt good.

"I would venture a guess that Saturday would be a real strong likely case that I would be out there on the mound," Grilli said.

It was important for Grilli to face major league hitters rather than minor league competition. He said he does not need a rehab assignment.

"I felt it more necessary for the injury I had last year [flexor strain] as opposed to this time around," Grilli said.

Update 5:42 p.m.: Clint Hurdle said the Pirates pushed Russell Martin last night through a long day of work, from 2 p.m. to the end of the game, to simulate a game day. He was to go through a similar workout today.

"He is of the opinion that through his work and all the work he’s done with the training staff, the strength staff, the running, that he feels better than he did coming into spring training," Hurdle said.

Martin's left hamstring has bothered him since spring. He has said he does not think he needs a rehab assignment and Hurdle said the team is considering bringing him back without one.

"The player drives his bus," Hurdle said. "The players can say no I don’t want to get to a rehab. We don’t want it to get to that point of the conversation. We want to have communication on the pros and cons of both sides, see if there’s a happy medium we can fit."

***Hurdle on Wandy Rodriguez: "This’ll be another test. It’s a very good offensive club. He got to see last night what they’re capable of doing when the ball’s not located and the pitches aren’t executed. I know he’s ready to take his turn and get us back into a better place off the mound."

***While in a discussion about the Pirates batters getting hit by pitches and HBPs in general, Hurdle implied that he wants his pitchers to go inside more:

"We are just trying to make sure that we do a better job, we’ve got to do a better job, of owning the plate and owning portions off the plate. You saw last night in a four-pitch sequence that three runs got put on the board. Yes, it is about mistakes, but home runs are also hit. Our home runs this year are up. I do think that comes partially from the fact that there’s more comfort in the box when they’re facing us."

Bat vs. pitch

Tillman vs. Pirates: Alvarez 1-3, Barmes 0-2, Davis 1-3, Marte 0-1, McCutchen 1-2, G. Sanchez 2-3, Snider 0-4, Stewart 2-6, Walker 1-1

Rodriguez vs. Orioles: Cruz 2-9, Davis 0-2, Hardy 6-23, Pearce 1-3, Young 0-2

Lineups

Orioles

1. Nick Markakis (L) RF
2. Manny Machado 3B
3. Adam Jones CF
4. Chris Davis (L) 1B
5. Nelson Cruz LF
6. J.J. Hardy SS
7. Jonathan Schoop 2B
8. Caleb Joseph C
9. Chris Tillman RHP

Pirates

1. Josh Harrison RF
2. Neil Walker (S) 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Pedro Alvarez (L) 3B
5. Starling Marte LF
6. Ike Davis (L) 1B
7. Jordy Mercer SS
8. Tony Sanchez C
9. Wandy Rodriguez (S) LHP