The Orioles have reportedly decided to call up highly touted phenom Kevin Gausman from Double-A Bowie to start Thursday. Arrieta and T.J. McFarland were said to be the only two candidates for that start, but things changed for manager Buck Showalter, general manager Dan Duquette and the Orioles. 

The Orioles need to make room the roster and it appears Arrieta is the most likely candidate to be sent out with McFarland a Rule 5 player that needs to stay on the roster. 

Showalter said a lot will depend on what happens with his bullpen over the next day or two. Arrieta appears to be the favorite to get the nod at this point. 

Arrieta was sent down after making four starts this year and going 1-1 with a 6.63 ERA. He was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk to work on his command and he displayed enough improvement to return in the bullpen. 

Manager Buck Showalter has been impressed, but did say he'll remain in the bullpen for now. 

"He was impressive again yesterday," Showalter said of McFarland, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Chris Tillman Sunday. "I'm real proud of our scouting department. So far, so good with him. He's a guy we've thought about starting, too, but right now it's Freddy and Jair."

"We throw him down in the bullpen, keep the ball in his hand," Showalter said. "There will come a time this season, I hope, that we’re not always saving him for long relief. He’ll get plenty of chances. You can’t carry a guy in the American League East who you’re not going to pitch. We’re not trying to hide him from pitching, but he serves a very important role here."