Showalter speaks after 3-2 win over Twins (plus pictures)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez's next start falls on Monday, when the Orioles have their only off-day of the spring schedule. Manager Buck Showalter said the right-hander could pitch in a Single-A game at Twin Lakes Park.

Jimenez would be spared another trip to Fort Myers for a Double-A or Triple-A game.

"I think he's had enough road travel this year," Showalter said.

Here's more from Showalter:

On Jimenez's start today: "Better. Each outing, he's been a little better. He had a lot of quality pitches. The last inning, he struck out the guy 2-2 and a ball was called. Caleb (Joseph) said the whole ball had the plate. His times to the plate have been good. You can tell it's something he's been working on and he's going to be able to (control) the running game a little bit. Slider, changeup. You can tell Caleb had something to work with. That was good to see. He's the first guy to get into the fifth."

On Jimenez building off each outing: "I think so, I hope so. We'll see how the next one is. We started him early to make sure he had as many innings and starts as he could. He's ready to go six innings next time out if the game allows it."

On whether he's seen enough to decide whether Jimenez is in the rotation: "I'm not going to get into that part of it with any of our starting pitchers - where they're pitching, what spot. We have half the games of spring training left to play. We don't have to get ahead of ourselves with that yet. I just hope that everybody stays healthy and continues to pitch like they are for the most part, so that we have one of those tough decisions. I'm not getting into that subject matter right now because I don't have to."

On Jimenez's improved breaking ball: "Yeah, especially early strike one, get ahead and expand the zone a little bit. As much as there were some hard-hit balls, about three of the hits were off the end of the bat, broken-bat flares. There was some weak contact there."

On catching depth if Matt Wieters goes on disabled list: "All our guys. That's one of the things if you look at where were were catching depth-wise a very short time ago and where we've evolved to with three or four really exciting young catchers coming. Obviously, Matt is our guy, but I think we showed last year our depth. And whether it's (Ryan) Lavarnway or Caleb or (J.P.) Arencibia or Clev (Steve Clevenger) or (Brian) Ward. All of them. It's become a strength as opposed to a weakness for us."

On Dariel Alvarez: "I thought Alvarez had some good at-bats again today. He's impressive."

On Zach Britton: "Zach was sharp. Most closers aren't that sharp this early in the spring."

On Mike Yastrzemski: "You can tell that Yastrzemski knows how to play. He's a baseball player. Throws the ball to the right place, hits the cutoff man, cuts the bases right. These people who are so quick to put a tag on somebody, whether they're a fourth outfielder or a tweener. Not to say that he is. That stuff plays up here, especially the way we have to play the game."

Here are some pictures from today in Fort Myers: