More on Orioles rotation and Straily's struggles

The sidebar on yesterday's news about Josh Rogers' insertion in the rotation is how Gabriel Ynoa is staying in it.

It speaks of the building trust in Ynoa, who's made four starts, and the limited alternatives as the Orioles seek ways to improve their depth in the high minors.

They'll keep a close eye on Tom Eshelman, who made his debut with Triple-A Norfolk last week and allowed only one earned run in seven innings.

Hyde expressed his satisfaction yesterday in his top four, which includes Andrew Cashner, Dylan Bundy and rookie John Means. However, the fifth spot could be fluid throughout the summer, with Rogers getting the latest shot at it.

Maybe he stays in the role. Maybe the Orioles resort to the opener approach again, as they did twice with Nate Karns.

Finding a pitcher to handle the first inning isn't an issue. The challenge is getting coverage for an extended stretch behind him.

Count how many times the Rays pass the baton.

The Orioles can't make it work if Hyde begins to wear a path to the mound.

"The guy who comes behind in the opener still has to give you length, right?" he said. "Just because the first guy gets five or six outs, you need a second guy to go four-plus innings, especially in our situation. So sometimes you've got think about if it makes sense.

"The second guy's still going to go through the middle of the order once or twice after the opener goes in the first inning. We're going to play with it a little bit."

Rogers is stretched out and might settle in as a standard fifth starter. He can dictate how the Orioles handle the back end of the rotation.

Dan Straily was supposed to be included in it, but lost his job after a series of ineffective outings. The bullpen seemed to provide a cure of sorts, with the veteran holding the Tigers to one run over four innings and shutting out the Blue Jays over 2 1/3.

The ERA slid below 8.00 and Straily might have been gaining consideration for a return until the Red Sox hammered him Friday night for four home runs and seven runs total over 1 1/3 innings.

A lasting image of Straily is how he crouched behind the mound as Michael Chavis' fly ball sailed over the center field fence, just out of Keon Broxton's reach, for the second of three home runs hit in the fifth inning.

The Orioles aren't aware of any physical issues with Straily, who signed as a free agent in April after the Marlins released him.

"I'm not sure," Hyde said. "He says he feels fine. Feels like after his side sessions he thinks that he's figuring some things out, but not getting the results obviously that he wants and we want.

"Pitched pretty good out of the 'pen a couple days ago, but (Friday) night obviously wasn't his night and I felt bad leaving him out there, but there was really no alternative."