Cobb's return delayed again

The decision to postpone last night's game between the Orioles and Twins at Camden Yards was an easy one based on the heavy rains that fell, a forecast that included a tornado warning and proverbial windows busted as if treated by a demolition crew.

Setting up the Orioles pitching also was a fairly easy call, the only question being whether Alex Cobb pitched in the first or second game of today's scheduled doubleheader. He's going in the nightcap, with Dan Straily leapfrogging him for the opener.

(Not that kind of opener. The first game.)

Both teams can use a 26th man in the second game, which factors into manager Brandon Hyde withholding Cobb until later.

The Orioles could keep their roster intact for the first game and activate Cobb from the injured list as the 26th man. Someone would need to be optioned afterward to get back down to 25. They also could swap out relievers between games, depending on how Hyde uses his bullpen in the 4:05 p.m. matchup.

Pitching Cobb in the first game would have required a corresponding roster move.

However it shakes out, Cobb is coming off the injured list and a pitcher will need to be subtracted after the doubleheader.

A three-man bench eliminates a position player getting the axe.

The wait continues for Cobb, who missed his start against the Athletics at Camden Yards because of a lumbar strain that forced him onto the injured list, and then missed the chance to be activated and pitch Tuesday night against the Rays at Tropicana Field because Hyde wanted him to first throw live batting practice.

The weather messed with him last night. Something else out of his control.

The Twins are keeping their rotation in order, with José Berríos going in Game One and Martín Pérez in the nightcap.

Cedric Mullins wasn't in the posted lineup last night against Berrios, but he's expected to be in center field for Game 1 instead of facing the left-handed Pérez in Game 2. Mullins is scuffling from both sides of the plate, but he's hit better against right-handers as a professional.

Straily has made two career starts against the Twins and allowed three earned runs and six hits in 12 2/3 innings.

Nelson Cruz is 2-for-12 with a double and home run against Straily and Jason Castro is 0-for-9 with six strikeouts. C.J. Cron is 2-for-3 with a double and home run.

Fans holding tickets for the originally scheduled 7:05 p.m. game tonight should use them for the single-admission doubleheader. The first 20,000 fans 15 and older will receive the Orioles tote bag.

Tickets for last night's postponed game won't automatically be honored for the doubleheader. Fans must exchange the value of their tickets from last night's game at the Oriole Park Box Office toward any remaining home game this season, including today's doubleheader, based on availability.

All exchanges must be completed by May 31. Complimentary tickets are non-exchangeable.

The ballpark gates open at 3 p.m. and parking lots open at 1:30 p.m.

Both games will air on MASN and on the Orioles Radio Network, including flagship station 105.7 The Fan.