Another roster move, thoughts on Wesley Wright and today's game

The Orioles conclude their final road trip before the All-Star break this afternoon while also shaking up their roster again.

First baseman Christian Walker is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and I was told a left-handed pitcher could join him. However, T.J. McFarland was in Gwinnett last night.

Left-hander Cesar Cabral also is on the 40-man roster and Wesley Wright is on the 60-day disabled list while continuing his injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk. Wright apparently will need to come off the assignment before the All-Star break.

Is Wright ready? He's allowed six earned runs (seven total) and 10 hits in 8 2/3 innings at Norfolk, with five walks and five strikeouts. But the discomfort in his left shoulder apparently is gone.

Wright would have to agree to extend his assignment the full 30 days and that doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Whatever happens today will provide a nice distraction from the Orioles' seven losses in the last nine games. It's worth noting, however, that they remain 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the American League East. Despite the current vibe, they haven't been mathematically eliminated.

Ubaldo Jimenez is back on the mound, having won four starts in a row before Friday's hard-luck 1-0 loss to the White Sox. He allowed one run in seven innings and lowered his ERA to 2.96 in 94 1/3 innings.

Jimenez is averaging 2.8 walks and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He's making it much easier on himself this season.

Jimenez turned in a brilliant performance in Minnesota last year, shutting out the Twins on three hits and striking out 10 over 7 1/3 innings on May 2. He was out of the rotation when they came to Baltimore in late August, and he pretty much reached his low point by entering in the ninth inning with the Orioles ahead 12-5 and retiring only one batter. Jimenez allowed three runs on one hit and three walks, and fans booed him on his way to the dugout.

It turned into a save situation for Zach Britton. It turned out to be a buzzkill.

Jimenez is 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA in eight games (seven starts) against the Twins and 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five starts at Target Field. Brian Dozier is 5-for-12 with a double, Torii Hunter is 8-for-21 with a double, Chris Herrmann is 3-for-6 with two doubles, Trevor Plouffe is 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts and Joe Mauer is 1-for-11.

Twins left-hander Tommy Milone has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six consecutive starts. Left-handers are batting .153 against him and right-handers are hitting .292.

Milone is 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in three career starts against the Orioles, with four earned runs allowed in 19 innings.

The current Orioles are 23-for-62 (.371) against Milone. Manny Machado is 5-for-8 with a double and home run, Steve Pearce is 4-for-6 with a double, J.J. Hardy is 4-for-9 with a double and Chris Davis is 2-for-8 with two home runs.