The Kevin Gausman era for the Orioles is about to begin.

An industry source confirmed tonight for MASNsports.com that Gausman is likely to make the start for the Orioles on Thursday at Toronto.

The club’s top pick last year is 2-4 with an ERA of 3.11 in eight starts this year for Double-A Bowie. He is coming off a start Friday at Trenton where he allowed four hits and one run over six innings. He walked one and fanned a season-high 10 in that game.

On the season, he has pitched 46 1/3 innings allowing 44 hits with five walks to 49 strikeouts and a .246 batting average against.

Before tonight’s game, Buck Showalter indicated that T.J. McFarland and Jake Arrieta were in the running to make that start, but now it is expected to be the right-hander out of LSU.

Gausman’s debut would come after just 64 1/3 pro innings. He pitched 18 innings late last summer for Aberdeen, Frederick and a playoff start for Bowie. He has fanned 67 and walked just six batters in that time, showing off a mid- to high-90s fastball to go with a plus changeup and an improving slider.

Gausman’s debut will come at a time when he is pitching very well. He has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last five starts, allowing just two earned runs in the other. He has an ERA of 1.78 in that time.

Here’s an assortment of recent links on Gausman:

* Gausman’s time could be coming, but it’s not now

* Showalter on Gausman: “He’s right where he needs to be”

* Notes on Gonzalez, Gausman and Zambrano

* When looking at possible changes, does the club look at the big picture too?

* On a rainy night in Bowie, Kevin Gausman takes another step on the road to Baltimore

