Tonight's game and more trade deadline talk

Heading into opening day, which Orioles starter was your choice to be the first 10-game winner of the season?

I'm trusting you to be honest.

Miguel Gonzalez is 9-6 going into tonight's start against the Tigers that begins a four-game series at Camden Yards. They're not his ideal opponent, considering how he's 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in five career games (four starts) against them.

Gonzalez allowed two runs and six hits in five innings in a 9-3 win on July 19 at Comerica Park.

The current Tigers are batting .322 (28-for-87) against Gonzalez unless I missed a trade in the middle of the night. They're apparently open for business.

Anthony Gose is 6-for-18 with a double, triple and home run against Gonzalez. Rajai Davis is 4-for-12 with three home runs, Yoenis Cespedes is 5-for-11, Jose Iglesias is 3-for-8 with a double and J.D. Martinez is 2-for-5.

Former Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon - or "Big Pasta" to you and me - takes the mound tonight for the Tigers. He's never faced his former club since going 8-12 with a 5.18 ERA and 17 saves in 78 games, including 19 starts, in four years.

Simon's had some grotesque outings this season. For example:

July 11 vs. Twins: 2 1/3 innings, 10 hits, seven runs, five earned runs
July 6 vs. Mariners: 5 2/3 innings, eight hits, five runs
July 1 vs. Pirates: 5 2/3 innings, 15 hits, six runs
June 20 vs. Yankees: 2 2/3 innings, eight hits, seven runs
April 30 vs. Royals: 4 1/3 innings, nine hits, six runs

However, Simon has allowed one run or fewer in eight starts this season. He's like a box of chocolates.

The five games listed above would be the jelly-filled ones that I hated as a kid. Spit 'em out.

Simon is 4-2 with a 3.43 ERA in nine home starts and 5-4 with a 5.57 ERA in 10 road starts. Left-handers are batting .309 with 10 home runs against Simon. Right-handers are batting .237 with one home run.

Travis Snider is 5-for-15 with a double against Simon, Chris Davis is 2-for-2 with a home run, J.J. Hardy is 0-for-1 and Jimmy Paredes has a sacrifice fly in his only plate appearance.

A victory tonight would allow the Orioles to match their season-high win streak of six games.

I can't let an entry pass without including the term "non-waiver trade deadline."

The Orioles may or may not do something by 4 p.m., Friday. I have no idea. My crystal ball still hasn't arrived in the mail.

I do know that teams looking to dump high-priced pending free agents aren't interested in the Orioles' high-priced pending free agents, so let's lose those trade proposals. These teams want prospects.

I talked to a scout from outside the organization who thinks the Orioles may be able to land a mid-level bat. Not a middle-of-the-order bat. He also confirmed that they're not willing to trade Kevin Gausman, which, of course, complicates any and all attempts to get an impact hitter.

Left-hander Brian Matusz's name came up in discussions with the Mariners, according to sources, but nothing came of it. Don't have any other details. It may have been tied to catcher Steve Clevenger, who's drawn the Mariners' interest.

The Orioles and Mets discussed a Matusz trade in spring training. The Orioles decided to hold onto him in part because of concerns over Wesley Wright.

Also, in case anyone was curious, the Orioles had no interest in a reunion with former closer Jim Johnson, who's reportedly headed to the Dodgers. However, he could come back into play after the season if he's on the free-agent market. But, you know, not as their closer.