Mar 9, 2012; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (75) pitches during the game against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

According to MASN.com & FoxSports.com, the team is preparing to call up highly touted starting pitcher & 2012 top draft pick Kevin Gausman to make the start in Toronto on Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Gausman, 22, rated as the team’s overall #2 prospect, may be coming up to the big leagues earlier than expected, but it doesn’t come as a huge shock, especially with the pitching struggles the team has dealt with this season. The team’s number one rated prospect, fellow pitcher Dylan Bundy, has been dealing with some lingering arm soreness and isn’t scheduled to start throwing again for a couple of weeks.

According to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com,

Entering Wednesday, the Orioles had received three consecutive starts of six innings or more, but prior to that, the club endured a seven-game stretch in which it got five innings or fewer from its starter six times. The O’s have already used 10 starting pitchers, and Gausman would be taking the turn of Jair Jurrjens, who allowed four runs over five innings in his one start before being optioned on Tuesday.

While he is only 2-4 with a 3.11 in eight starts for AA Bowie this season, his current strikeout to walk ratio is the stuff that makes scouts drool, 49 : 5. It is that stat, according to FoxSports.com, along with Gausman’s command, that gives the team confidence that Gausman is ready to make the leap to the major leagues. He has pitched just 64 1/3 pro innings, but he has been pitching well as of late, fanning 10 batters in his most recent outing.

Gausman did spend a lot of time with the major league club during spring training, but here’s a quick video the Baysox put together to introduce him to Orioles fans.

It’s tough NOT to think about a comparison between Gausman and wunderkid 3rd baseman Manny Machado, who made the big league jump at age 20 last season and has started extremely well this season in the field and at the plate.

May 19, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) throws over to first base to get out Tampa Bay Rays first baseman James Loney (not shown) in the sixth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Gausman will need to be afforded some time to work out the kinks and butterflies that accompany being called up for the first time, but there’s a reason the O’s selected him so high last year. Be sure to check out the Orioles this Thursday, May 23 against Toronto as the seemingly never-ending game of musical pitchers continues and Gausman makes his first major league start.

Cofirmation: Kevin Gausman is getting the start Thursday at Toronto to begin his big league career. Last year’s No. 1 pick jumping from AA

— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) May 22, 2013

For those of you on Twitter, Gausman’s handle is @KevinGausman.

Freddy Garcia said he’s done all his work in between starts to start on schedule on Monday. Buck hasn’t announced starter yet. #orioles

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) May 19, 2013

O’s have 3 quality starts in last 10 games- all by Chris Tillman. O’s 1-2 in those games b/c blown save in one & lack of runs in other.

— Mark Viviano (@MarkViviano) May 19, 2013

Time to clean it up. Pretty simple yet extremely difficult #StayHungry

— Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10) May 19, 2013

I’m glad my positivity runs off on ppl. It’s easy to be negative in this world. Rise above and smile

— Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10) May 19, 2013

But clean it up in the process. Always a constant process in life. Aim for greatness

— Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10) May 19, 2013

Showalter hoping Flaherty can ‘get his legs back under him’ at Norfolk sns.mx/6ksMy7

— Matt Wieters (@MattWietersFans) May 20, 2013

Freddy Garcia will start tmrw, Buck said.

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) May 19, 2013

This is a tough stretch, 53 games into the season and heading into the hot summer months. The offense and the pitching have both had stretches where they’ve been superior, maybe just not necessarily at the same time. Look at the positives, though. According to ESPN.com, the Orioles are 3rd in runs scored (212), 5th in slugging percentage (.440) and 5th in team batting average (.267), continuing the team-wide improvement. Pitching has been dealing with injuries and lack of a consistency starting rotation, but Jim Johnson has been (almost) lights out. Tomorrow, the team is in primetime on Monday Night Baseball at home against CC Sabathia & the division-leading Yankees, it’s a solid chance for players to shake off the tough start to the homestand and finish May on an upswing.

Ending on a fun note, the 13th seeded Orioles are in the finals(!) of the ESPN.com Battle of the Uniforms. They’re facing off against the top NL seed St. Louis Cardinals after knocking off the top AL seed Tigers and the 2nd seed Yankees. Like Jim Caple said, “As fans of the comedy series “Portlandia” know, the secret to merchandising is to slap a bird on it. And apparently, the same holds true for baseball uniforms.” Here’s the link, vote O’s!

Battle of the MLB Uniforms

March 19, 2013; Lakeland, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Mike Fontenot (7) gets set during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

2001: Mike Fontenot – Fontenot developed a nice career for himself as a utility infielder. Now 32 and playing for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Orioles drafted Fontenot as a 2nd baseman with pick 19 of the 2001 draft. Fontenot spent four years in the Orioles farm system before being traded to the Cubs in 2005 along with Jerry Hairston and Dave Crouthers for Sammy Sosa. Fontenot guest-starred on the season 3 finale of the TBS baseball-themed comedy series My Boys.

2002: Adam Loewen – When he was drafted 4th overall by Baltimore, Loewen was the highest drafted Canadian player in the history of the draft. In 2004, Loewen was listed by Baseball America as Baltimore’s highest rated prospect, but a stress fracture in his forearm/elbow forced him from the mound, and he was converted to a 1st baseman/outfielder. He was released by the Orioles in 2008 and ended up with the Toronto Blue Jays, where in 2011, against the Orioles and Tommy Hunter, no less, he hit his first major league home run. Loewen is still with the Blue Jays, right now at their AA level.

2003: Nick Markakis – Markakis was the first “hit” so to speak, draft pick by the Orioles in many years. Other than Brian Roberts, he is the longest tenured Orioles, in the middle of his 10th year with the team. When he was drafted, Markakis clocked in at 96 MPH with his fastball, but the team grabbed him for his hitting potential. He made the Opening Day roster and has been a mainstay ever since. His timely hitting and consistent has earned him a Gold Glove as well as a massive 6 year $66.1 million dollar extension in 2009, and the admiration of many fans because he probably could have received more from another team but chose to stay with the Orioles.

Apr. 12, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis (21) singles to left against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Yankees won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

2004: Wade Townsend – Drafted 8th by Baltimore in 2004, Townsend decided to return to Rice University and was drafted again the next year by Tampa Bay. A college star, he’s now 30 years old and currently a free agent.

2005: Brandon Snyder – Before Matt Wieters, there was Brandon Snyder. Drafted 13th overall as a catcher by the O’s in 2005, he spent five years in the minors before getting to the major leagues in 2010. He drifted between the minors and the majors over the next couple of years before being traded to Texas in 2012. He hit his first major league home run in May 2012 with Texas, but was released in March 2013 and currently has a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox.

2006: William Rowell – Billy Rowell was drafted 9th overall in 2006, and spent 6 years in the Orioles minor league system. A towering 6’5″ pitcher/3rd baseman, he was tagged with a 50 game suspension in May 2012 for a 2nd violation of the major league drug program. He is currently a free agent.

Apr 21, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp (27) scores on a one-run RBI double by A.J. Ellis (not shown) as Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) cannot make the play in the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Dodgers defeated the Orioles 7 – 4. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

2007: Matt Wieters – Then, there is Matt Wieters. Drafted 5th overall by the Orioles out of Georgia Tech, Wieters rose quickly through the minor league system and was catching consistently in the major leagues by 2009. He’s now the Orioles starting catcher and one of the “heart of the order” power hitters along with Chris Davis and Nick Markakis. Like Markakis, Wieters is a clubhouse leader, and he’s a two-time Gold Glove winner, two-time All-Star, and one of the top catchers in the game right now.

Aug. 31, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brian Matusz (17) shakes hand with catcher Matt Wieters (32) after the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

2008: Brian Matusz – Matusz is another star in the making who rose quickly through the minor leagues, making his major league debut August 4, 2009. A lanky fireballer of a pitcher, what Matusz struggled with early on was consistency and confidence. When Matusz came back to the team after a trip to the minors last year, manager Buck Showalter made the decision to move him from the rotation to the bullpen, and it looked like the lightbulb went on. Matusz finished the season on a tear, his fastball almost unhittable and pitching well against the Rangers and Yankees in the playoffs.

2009: Matthew Hobgood – Drafted 5th overall in 2009, Micah Hobgood is a name many fans probably don’t know, but may get to know over the next few years. He’s currently at A Delmarva after missing all of 2012 because of rotator cuff surgery. Right now, he’s 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA. There’s not much of a record of him, but all indications are that he’s working on making his way up the ladder.

Apr 23, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a two-run RBI single in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

2010: Manny Machado – The now 20 year old phenom was drafted as an 18 year old shortstop with the 3rd pick of the 2010 draft. Machado was intriguing, if a little unproven, but the Orioles promoted him to plug the hole at 3rd base on August 9th 2012. The next day, he had his first multi-homer game. Though he makes mistakes, he seems to have a sense about the ball that is well beyond his years. Often compared to Alex Rodriguez, the Orioles have a gold glover at shortstop in J.J. Hardyand a rising star at third in Machado.

Mar 9, 2012; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (75) pitches during the game against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

2011/2012: Dylan Bundy/Kevin Gausman – Bundy, Machado, and 2012 1st round pick Kevin Gausman are prime examples of the smart drafting by GM Dan Duquette. Bundy, 20 as well, oozes with potential and talent. Because of that talent, the team is taking his development slowly and carefully. Bundy’s ability to throw a two-seam fastball, a four-seamer, a cutter, changeup, and curve is remarkably advanced for someone his age. 2012 draft pick Gausman was recently promoted to AA, and according to Orioles insiders, seems to be handling the change well.