Another pitching move pending and a look at two struggling Orioles

Just when the Orioles thought they could make it through a day without another roster move, 13 innings happened.

Look for a reliever to arrive from Triple-A Norfolk before tonight's game against the Indians at Camden Yards.

I pitched T.J. McFarland's name - so to speak - before the Orioles decided to recall Preston Guilmet. McFarland remains a candidate tonight as a backup to right-handed starter Bud Norris.

McFarland is scheduled to start tonight for Norfolk. We'll see.

The Orioles could option Guilmet, which would be a shame, since he retired all seven batters he faced last night and has set down all 12 with the Orioles this season. He probably won't be available for a few days.

Brad Brach may not be available after throwing 47 pitches Wednesday night, though the Orioles also would like to keep him. They're intrigued by his ability now to serve in a long relief role, and some people in the organization view him as potential starter material.

Not right away, of course, but maybe down the road.

There's also left-hander Troy Patton, who's out of minor league options and hoisting an 8.10 ERA in nine games since coming off the restricted list. He's surrendered five runs and five hits in his last two appearances over 1 2/3 innings.

Patton's ERA was 1.80 before Sunday, with six straight scoreless appearances.

"The last two outings have been a struggle," he said. "I felt real good when I first came back, threw a bad pitch, gave up a three-run homer last time out, and then obviously this. The last two outings have been a struggle, but other than that, I felt fine.

"I still feel fine. I'm throwing good pitches. It's just some bad luck and some bad timing."

Patton took the loss last night after allowing two runs in the 13th inning.

"Guilmet looked amazing," Patton said. "He was locating very well. Obviously, (Zach) Britton did a great job, too. It's my job to... I don't know how many innings I would have thrown there, but it was my job to throw as many as I can. I was in trouble from the start."

David Lough went 0-for-2 with a walk and left four runners on base, his average dipping to .171. Showalter is trying to heat up Lough's bat by putting him in left field against right-handed starters.

Lough came to the plate last night with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth after Indians starter Justin Masterson walked a batter and hit two. He took a sinker in the dirt - bringing Cleveland pitching coach Mickey Callaway to the mound - swung at a changeup in the dirt, took a sinker for a ball and bounced into a 1-2-3 double play.

Before last night's game, Showalter said Lough had looked "better" at the plate.

"I tried to get him at least three starts in Kansas City," Showalter said. "That's about as good as I've seen David swing the bat all year. It kind of looked like spring training and that guy we saw last year.

"We ran into a couple left-handers (in Pittsburgh) and National League rules. I'm hoping that what we saw in Kansas City will be a precursor to him kind of getting back to what he's capable of."