By Dan Connolly Baltimore Sun

12:42 p.m. AKDT, April 7, 2012
Lefty Tsuyoshi Wada (elbow) will pitch in extended spring training on Monday (against the Minnesota Twins’ minor-league camp in Fort Myers, Fla.) and on March 14th in Port Charlotte, Fla. (against Tampa Bay Rays camp). If all goes well, he’ll likely go to a minor-league affiliate and pitch on March 19.

Showalter said he’d like for Wada to throw at least 90 pitches twice. He could then be ready to return to the Orioles. Whether he comes back as a starter or reliever, Showalter said, depends on how Wada is throwing and how the big-league rotation has fared.

Ronny Paulino is the Orioles’ DH today, meaning the club does not have a true backup catcher. Showalter joked that he has one – but he’s not telling anyone, including the player.

The presence of Paulino and Nick Johnson in Saturday’s game has to do with their splits against lefties as well as Showalter’s interest in getting as many of his hitters into early-season games as possible. 

Twins’ Sunday starter Liam Hendriks has been scratched with food poisoning. He has been hospitalized and is expected to be released on Sunday morning. Right-haner Anthony Swarzak will start against the Orioles on Sunday. 

Here are the lineups for Saturday:

Twins: Span 8, Carroll 6, Mauer 2, Morneau DH, Willingham 7, Parmalee 3, Valencia 5, Revere 9, Casilla 4. Liriano P.
  
Orioles: Remold 7, Hardy 6, Markakis 9, Jones 8, Wieters 2, Reynolds 5, Johnson 3, Paulino DH, Andino 4, Hunter P.