Jiménez gets another shot in the rotation

The main reason why Ubaldo Jiménez is starting today for the Orioles is to bolster the bullpen with Alec Asher's return to a relief role. However, it wouldn't be unprecedented for Jiménez to react favorably to his switch.

The Orioles pulled Jiménez from the rotation in 2014 after he allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings in an Aug. 16 game against the Indians. He pitched in relief Aug. 23 at Wrigley Field and held the Cubs to one run over four innings. Put back in the rotation, he held the Blue Jays to two runs in five innings on Sept. 16 and the Yankees to two runs in five innings on Sept. 23.

Jiménez lost his starting job again last summer after surrendered five runs in one-third of an inning on June 12 in Toronto, an outing that inflated his ERA to 6.89. He started twice against the Padres on June 22 and 28 and allowed a combined three runs in 11 innings.

Jiménez made four relief appearances, then started against the Nationals in D.C. on Aug. 25 and allowed one run over six innings. He gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings in an Aug. 30 start against the Blue Jays and thee runs over nine innings in a Sept. 5 start in Toronto.

The roll continued in Detroit, where Jiménez allowed two runs over seven innings on Sept. 10. He closed the regular season by surrendering four runs in seven innings against the Rays, no earned runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Red Sox and no runs and one hit in 6 2/3 innings in Toronto.

Manager Buck Showalter put Jiménez back in the bullpen this season after five starts. Jiménez tossed three scoreless innings in Boston after Kevin Gausman's ejection, started on May 9 against the Nationals and allowed four runs over 7 2/3 innings.

Do you think the Orioles would settle for those numbers today?

Jiménez is 3-3 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.233 WHIP in nine career starts against the Cardinals over 60 innings. Yadier Molina is 3-for-16 (.188). Adam Wainwright is 2-for-3 with two doubles, but he pitched yesterday and they have a designated hitter in the American League.

Maybe he could pinch-hit today.

Lance Lynn has posted a 2.69 ERA in 13 starts this season, with a 1.086 WHIP over 73 2/3 innings. He hasn't gone more than 5 1/3 innings in his last four starts.

Lynn has made two appearances against the Orioles, including one start, totaling 7 2/3 innings. He's allowed three runs and 10 hits, with one walk and 11 strikeouts. Both games were played at Camden Yards.

Welington Castillo is 6-for-9 with two home runs lifetime against Lynn. Mark Trumbo is 3-for-7 with two home runs.

Manny Machado has batted second in two straight games instead of his customary third spot in the order. He doubled and homered yesterday.

"Just a different look," Showalter said. "We did it with Jonesy (Adam Jones). Kind of how a lot of guys are hitting. One of their best hitters (second). He came up in some RBI situations there. But I've been thinking about just trying to give him a different feel, a different look, something.

"It's no real deep meaning to it other than sometimes you just want to try something a little different for him."