DETROIT — Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim's season of adjustments is putting another in his path. His once-regular role as the big half of an outfield platoon, playing against all right-handed pitching, is diminishing in the name of getting starts for Steve Pearce.

For Kim, who spent the first two months of the season playing essentially once a week as he put a miserable spring training behind him before earning and thriving in a more regular role, the early-season experience is one he can draw from as the starts dry up.

“I definitely feel that this is all different kinds of experiences that I've been through, not being able to play every day like how I did my whole career in Korea,” Kim said through interpreter Danny Lee. “Those are definitely helping me to get prepared and get ready for this very important last month of the season.”

Kim started Friday night and had a hit in three at-bats, though he was robbed of a home run when Detroit Tigers left fielder Justin Upton reached above the wall in the third inning. Upton just missed a diving catch on a shallow fly ball in the eighth inning, which Kim turned into a double.

“Regardless of playing time, I still feel like I'm being lucky to get those hits that aren't supposed to be hits,” Kim said. “That those are happening are helping me in every way possible, but there are ways I can improve on. I make sure I improve whenever I need to to make sure I'm a better player.”

Kim is batting .311 with four home runs and 15 RBIs with an .809 OPS in 78 games this season. Friday was just his second start in the Orioles' past seven games. Kim said even when he doesn't play, it's up to him to stay ready.

“I just get prepared and make sure I'm ready to go on an everyday basis,” Kim said. “It doesn't really matter if Steve gets to start or I get to start. It's about how well you prepare when you're actually prepared to play.”

Gallardo skipped for Boston series: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo, at least for the time being, is the odd man out as the team works to accommodate six starting pitchers upon the return of injured right-hander Chris Tillman today.

Wade Miley will pitch the series opener Monday night against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on seven days' rest after his most recent turn through the rotation was moved back to accommodate the regular schedules of Kevin Gausman and Ubaldo Jimenez around Thursday's day off. After Miley, right-hander Dylan Bundy and Gausman will stay on turn for the final two games against the Red Sox, and Gallardo will start Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards.

“He'll pitch the next day, depending on how Chris feels, if everything goes well with Chris tomorrow,” manager Buck Showalter said. “Everything is kind of a moving part. Especially if Chris gets back, we'll have six to pick from.”

Gallardo's most recent start was Tuesday night, when he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings to earn a win over the Rays.

This season, Gallardo has allowed eight runs in 10 innings over two starts against the Red Sox, while holding Tampa Bay to seven earned runs in 151/3 innings over three starts. He also fared poorly in his one start at Fenway Park this season.

How the rotation shakes out after Gallardo is unclear, though Jimenez and Tillman could come back and pitch Friday and Saturday on one extra day of rest, provided Tillman comes through his start today without a problem.

Showalter said that will be the key to everything, with Tillman's health more important than anything else coming out of today's game.

“I expect him to be a little rusty,” Showalter said. “I think there's a lot of unknown there. He's had not near as much time off as it seems like he's had. But more than anything, we'd just like him to be healthy, because even if he has a little rusty start, each one of them will get better. It's exciting for his teammates to get him back, and for me. But we'll see.”

Davis down on his hand: First baseman Chris Davis, who has spent the season dealing with soreness in the thumb area on his left hand, said the two days off he got last week didn't do much to get any of the discomfort out.

“Swinging a bat is painful,” Davis said. “I went 0-for-3 [Friday] night. I had two days off before that. I don't think it made a whole lot of difference.”

Davis returned Friday after leaving the Orioles' win Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla., and missing Wednesday's game. Showalter said he expected Davis would be dealing with the ailment for the rest of the year. Davis echoed that Saturday.

“I couldn't tell you if it was one specific event or if it was something I've been dealing with all season,” Davis said. “I obviously haven't been myself all season, but that's part of it. Unfortunately, we have bodies that aren't invincible. When you play a physical game every day for months at a time, you're going to get nicks and bruises. You move on and you go on.”

Davis is batting .228 with 36 home runs and 80 RBIs after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday night.

Around the horn: Reliever Darren O'Day (right rotator cuff strain) will have another bullpen session, likely today, before throwing a simulated game Tuesday in Boston, Showalter said. … Today is scheduled to be left-hander Jayson Aquino's final day with the team, as he'll head to Sarasota, Fla., to join the team's taxi squad.

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