The Orioles haven't announced a starter for Tuesday night's game against the Oakland Athletics at Camden Yards, but the name might be revealed later this afternoon.
Alfredo Simon and Chris Jakubauskas are the two bullpen candidates. I'm predicting that Simon gets the assignment, but nothing is official and I've been wrong many times in the past. I'm sure at least one of you is keeping a list.
"We'll take it through today and make a call after today. We'll be able to tell you after the game today," manager Buck Showalter said.
"If we had to make a decision today, we know where we'd head, but we just don't want to go out there publicly in case something changes. But they know who the candidates are and they'll know after the game."
In other words, Showalter will wait to make sure he doesn't need one of his long relievers in today's game.
Showalter was asked if he'd be comfortable starting Robert Andino at second base if Brian Roberts is forced to miss two or three months.
"We went into the offseason at every position, once we got our club kind of settled going into spring training, saying, 'OK, if this guy gets hurt in spring training or something happens for whatever reason, what would we do?'" he replied. "We felt like Robert was a guy who would make our club and help us. He hasn't shown much to make us think that he couldn't ... Ryan Adams, he needs to be playing more, getting his at-bats.
"When (Roberts) comes back, that's a completely inexact thing. I don't think anybody's putting a date on it. I think we'll know more after Friday. I think Robert has the abilities to do it. He's handled left-handed pitching real well this year."
I didn't realize that Andino is batting .356 (21-for-59) against lefties this season.
For the Blue Jays:
Yunel Escobar SS
Corey Patterson LF
Jose Bautista RF
Adam Lind 1B
Aaron Hill 2B
Edwin Encarnacion DH
Rajai Davis CF
Jose Molina C
Jayson Nix 3B
Jo-Jo Reyes LHP
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