Gallardo's turn on the mound and at the plate

SAN DIEGO - As Orioles manager Buck Showalter aligned his rotation in the weeks leading to the first interleague games in National League ballparks, he wanted to set up Yovani Gallardo for starts that would allow the veteran right-hander to bat. If you're going to lose the designated hitter, substitute him with a pitcher who's hit 12 career home runs and has won a Silver Slugger Award.

And if Ubaldo Jimenez was going to re-enter the rotation, let him bat as a former National League pitcher accustomed to doing it.

"In a perfect world, but we're not going to move it around and mess up a lot of guys to do it," Showalter said. "We were looking at it a couple weeks ago and thought it might fall this way. But a guy doesn't get out of the first or second inning, it doesn't matter.

"Both of those guys are removed from it, and you worry about the injury factor. Now, all of a sudden, they're running or trotting. They're doing a lot of things.

"The preparation is what you worry about. The problem with it now is you've got the American League in between it and then it starts up again in L.A. after four days in Seattle. I just wish they'd do it all at the same time and get it over with."

I'm also trying to figure out why the schedule calls for the Orioles to go from San Diego to Seattle to Los Angeles on the current road trip.

Gallardo is making his third start today since coming off the disabled list. He allowed two runs and five hits in five innings against the Blue Jays and three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Rays. His walks dropped from four to two.

What would make Showalter happy about Gallardo's start today?

"Just continued health, I hope, and giving us a chance to win," he replied.

"He's going to give us a chance to win more times than not, but the other team always tells me how they're pitching. I watch the other team and they tell me how good he is.

"The first one was pretty good. The second one, the first inning was pretty rough, but he came back. He feels good and that bodes well. We need him."

Gallardo is 4-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 12 career starts against the Padres and 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA in six starts at Petco Park.

Brett Wallace is 9-for-21 with a home run against Gallardo and Matt Kemp is 9-for-25 with three doubles and two home runs. Jon Jay, who went on the disabled list yesterday, was 11-for-36 with a double and two home runs.

Padres left-hander Christian Friedrich is 4-2 with a 3.60 ERA in eight starts. He's got a 1.556 WHIP in 45 innings, averaging five walks per nine innings.

Friedrich has a 5.57 ERA in four home starts and a 1.88 ERA in four road starts. He's never faced the Orioles, but Mark Trumbo is 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs. Pedro Alvarez is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.