Orioles hoping for a repeat performance from Jiménez

MILWAUKEE - It's a tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme.

Ubaldo Jiménez takes the mound and the Orioles again have no idea which version they're going to get. The Jiménez who shut out the Blue Jays on two hits over eight innings in his last start - it was a real beauty - or the Jiménez who lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Rays and was charged with nine runs?

Both a little scared. Neither one prepared.

Or should I go with, "Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning you were wrong?"

The Orioles hope they're right about Jiménez as they keep running him out there in search of more magic. It's always in there. The key is getting it out of him.

Don't forget that Jiménez held the Cardinals to two runs over seven innings before facing the Rays. He's been really good in two of three starts since rejoining the rotation.

Jiménez has made six career starts against the Brewers and is 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 41 innings. He's allowed three earns (four total) in 21 innings at Miller Park.

Ryan Braun is 8-for-20 (.400) with three doubles and a home run. Travis Shaw, who came out of yesterday's game after a Wade Miley pitch slammed into his left hand, is 1-for-11 with five strikeouts.

Right-hander Jimmy Nelson has posted a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts. Right-handers are hitting .280 against him and left-handers are batting .239, so keep it in mind when the Orioles post their lineup.

Nelson has a 2.64 ERA in nine home starts and a 4.62 ERA in seven road starts. He's never faced the Orioles, but Welington Castillo is 3-for-5 with a home run against him. Rubén Tejada is 0-for-5, Seth Smith is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and Mark Trumbo is 0-for-1.

Trey Mancini was 0-for-15 before collecting a single and double yesterday. Jonathan Schoop drew his 19th walk, two short of his 2016 total.

Tyler Wilson is supposed to join the Orioles in Milwaukee today, which could put Jimmy Yacabonis back on the shuttle to Triple-A Norfolk after he allowed one run yesterday in 3 1/3 innings.

"He had really good stuff," Castillo said. "He's a young guy with a great arm. He had a new pitch, a change that worked pretty good today. He's got a long way to go, but I like his stuff."

The Brewers are managed by Craig Counsell, who played for Orioles manager Buck Showalter in Arizona during the 2000 season.

"He was a regular irregular. You could put him about anywhere and feel good about it," Showalter said.

Counsell becoming a manager "doesn't surprise me at all," Showalter said.

"He's one of those guys who probably didn't need to, but wanted to. That's the guys that end up doing it well. You get to know him and his family, he's good people. Good people. Very trustworthy guy. I know he's a fan of the game. He enjoyed baseball, he enjoyed the small things. He did the small things right. He's a guy you really trusted as a manager. He was always ready.

"There's a reason why guys like that, everybody's looking to put them on their club. He always created a good atmosphere around him."

Closer Zach Britton tossed a scoreless ninth inning last night at Single-A Frederick, allowing one hit, walking a batter and striking out one. He's coming off the disabled list Wednesday in Milwaukee.