FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Though Orioles manager Dave Trembley isn't ready to name an Opening Day starter, he confirmed yesterday that left-hander Adam Loewen will be the first pitcher used in Thursday's exhibition opener against the Florida Marlins.

Loewen threw another simulated game yesterday and is lined up for Thursday's assignment, according to the schedule that Trembley and pitching coach Rick Kranitz have devised.

"With the sense of anticipation that Adam has himself, the sooner we can get him out there, the better," Trembley said. "I think that was a big part in the planning on that. Let's get him out on the mound, let's get him in a game as quickly as we can, understanding, of course, that he had to pass all the fliers and be ready. He threw good out there today, so he'll pitch."

Loewen made six starts last season before undergoing surgery June 14 to insert a screw in his fractured left elbow. He's slated to go two innings against the Marlins unless he labors in the first and runs up his pitch count.

"It's cool to get out there first and not have to wait around and watch the game, with all that anticipation. It means a lot to me," he said.

"I'm 100 percent healthy. I don't feel like I have to pace myself. I feel great."

Loewen went 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA in six exhibition starts last year. He threw 35 pitches in yesterday's simulated game and said he could push himself further.

"Each time I go out there, I get more comfortable," he said. "I'm pain-free. I'm icing my shoulder and not my elbow. That's a big thing for me."

Progress in spring training comes to Loewen in other areas besides his health.

"I did a few things today that I struggled with last year," he said. "I threw inside very well to lefties. That's something I didn't really do at all last season."

Trembley said his lineup will include "a lot of guys that everybody is anxious to see," including outfielders Adam Jones and Luke Scott. First baseman Kevin Millar will bat cleanup.

Sherrill to sit

Reliever George Sherrill said the tightness in his right hamstring is beginning to subside, and he participated in an abbreviated workout yesterday, but he has been scratched from Thursday's game as a precaution.

Sherrill, who was supposed to pitch one inning against the Marlins, stretched with the other players and played catch before retreating to the clubhouse. He's hoping to throw a bullpen session today.

"It feels a lot better," said Sherrill, who has undergone heat and massage treatments and worn a medicinal patch on the back of his leg. "It's getting there. I'm day-to-day."

The Orioles won't rush Sherrill, who's supposed to close for them this season.

"I don't want to do anything to go backward," he said. "Thursday is what I'm shooting for."

Huff progressing

The reports on Aubrey Huff's progress from last month's sports hernia surgery continue to be positive. Brought along slowly when camp opened, he's catching up to everyone else.

"That's another good sign for us," Trembley said.

Huff took his first rounds of batting practice yesterday, with coaches throwing from behind the protective screen, and he's expected to take live BP today. He also participated in fundamental drills and is classified as "full-go" in workouts.

"I felt pretty good last week, but this was the first full day, and it felt pretty nice," he said. "I'm a little more ahead than I thought I'd be. I thought I'd be ready to go just around the time that the [exhibition] games rolled around, but I'm already starting to do stuff. That's good news."

Working on basics

The first intrasquad game will be played tomorrow, but there's more work to do on the basics before Trembley is satisfied.

"We're going to review all the fundamentals tomorrow," he said. "I'll go back to a defensive station tomorrow for everybody. I wasn't real happy with the pop-ups and fly balls here the other day, so we're going to do that again, and we're going to put the machine out there and let the catchers do pop-ups. We'll slide on Monday [today], also. Then we will have covered everything.

"But it's been great. The tempo has been very good. I think the sense of cooperation has been tremendous. We've gotten our work in, and the attention to detail has been what I expected."

roch.kubatko@baltsun.com