Showalter on weekend rotation: "See how today goes"

Orioles manager Buck Showalter has decided on his rotation for the weekend series in Houston. He's just not sharing it.

Kevin Gausman and Wade Miley are lined up for the first two games following Thursday's off-day. Ubaldo Jiménez's next turn is Sunday, but it's evident that Showalter is prepared to make a change.

Showalter confirmed this morning that he's set his rotation for the series, but "not publicly yet."

"See how today goes," he added. "Today might affect it."

Read between the lines and this suggests that Alec Asher or left-hander Jayson Aquino could make the start if they're not needed in relief.

Asher has become valuable as a late-inning reliever in a bullpen that's been forced to adjust roles while closer Zach Britton is on the disabled list. He's posted a 2.33 ERA in 10 appearances and registered quality starts against the Blue Jays and Red Sox in his two opportunities.

I'm tabbing him as the favorite.

"He's got one of the best deliveries on our team, so he can locate, and he's got some weapons to get left- and right-handed hitters out," Showalter said. "Another thing I like about him is he's got a little twinkle in his eyes, so to speak. He likes to compete. He ain't scared. He'll do what it takes to compete most of the time. Works fast, holds runners, fields his position."

The Orioles obtained Asher from the Phillies on March 28 for a player to be named later or cash. An under the radar move that's grown in significance.

"You get somebody like the way we acquired him and you keep going, 'OK, what are we missing here?'" Showalter said. "He's been moved around a lot. Sometimes, organizations don't get them long enough to really get a feel for them. But we'll see."

Aquino, recalled yesterday from Triple-A Norfolk, made an April 22 starts against the Red Sox and allowed two runs in six innings.

Jiménez is 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 12 career games (11 starts) against the Astros and 2-0 with a 2.34 ERA in seven starts in Houston. He faced them once last summer in relief at Camden Yards and allowed three runs and walked four batters in three innings. He made two starts against them in 2015 and allowed four runs and 10 hits in seven innings at Camden Yards and two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts in six innings at Minute Maid Park.

"I go the last two or three years," Showalter said. "I don't pay attention to that stuff eight or nine years ago when you're throwing 98. Different guy."

Showalter noted that the ability to hold runners this weekend is an important factor - another strike against Jiménez, who struggles in that department. The Astros rank seventh in the American League and 16th in the majors with 21 stolen bases.

"Really, if you get up in the 1.6, 1.7 (to home plate), it plays with every team. You can steal second like that, if you get real high like that," Showalter said. "You've got to think about that, especially with them.

"If you do a good job, you want them to run because there are some outs there. But if you don't do a good job of holding them and times to the plate ..."

For the Twins
Brian Dozier 2B
Jorge Polanco SS
Miguel Sanó DH
Max Kepler RF
Kennys Vargas 1B
Eduardo Escobar 3B
Eddie Rosario LF
Chris Gimenez C
Byron Buxton CF

José Berríos RHP