Gausman vs. Estrada tonight in Toronto

Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run in five innings last night at Target Field in Minnesota.

Wasn't pretty, wasn't easy, wasn't suitable for framing, but he held the Twins to one run in five innings as fans everywhere braced for disaster and were making alternate plans.

The fifth inning spoke volumes about Jimenez. Strikeout, strikeout, walk, single, strikeout.

Hope you enjoy a nice stroll on the tightrope.

The rotation beyond Jimenez last night is Kevin Gausman, Yovani Gallardo and Chris Tillman in Toronto, which leads us into Monday's off-day and Showalter's imagination.

Showalter wanted to push back Gausman and Dylan Bundy. He wanted to find a spot where Jimenez could succeed, and a one-game series in Minnesota proved ideal.

Bundy could open the three-game series against the Rangers on Tuesday, giving him an extra day of rest. The Orioles must decide whether to add a fourth bench player and go back to a 12-man pitching staff.

Gausman shut out the Indians over seven innings in his last start and has allowed two runs over 13 2/3 innings in his last two outings. He's struck out 26 batters in 24 2/3 innings this month.

Gausman faced the Blue Jays on June 10 in Toronto and allowed two earned runs (three total) over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 loss. He's 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 10 career games (five starts) against the Jays and 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in six appearances (three starts) at Rogers Centre.

Josh Donaldson is 4-for-12 with a double against Gausman and Darwin Barney is 4-for-6 with a home run. Edwin Encarnacion is 0-for-12 and Jose Bautista is 0-for-8.

The Jays tweaked their rotation to give Marco Estrada the start tonight against the Orioles. He hasn't pitched since last Friday after coming off the disabled list.

Estrada is 5-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 17 starts this season, and his 1.006 WHIP in 110 1/3 innings was tied for lowest among American League starters going into last night. He held the Orioles to one run and struck out nine batters over five innings on April 21 at Camden Yards, and he allowed three runs and struck out eight batters in six innings on June 10.

In eight career games (six starts) against the Orioles, Estrada has gone 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 37 1/3 innings. The current group is batting .190 against him, with only 23 hits in 121 at-bats.

Ryan Flaherty is 3-for-9 with two home runs against Estrada, and Jonathan Schoop is 3-for-11 with two home runs. Pedro Alvarez is 3-for-21 with a home run and nine strikeouts, Adam Jones is 1-for-12, Manny Machado is 2-for-14 with a home run, Chris Davis is 2-for-10 with two home runs and seven walks, Mark Trumbo is 2-for-10 with a home run and five strikeouts and J.J. Hardy is 1-for-10.

Davis is a career .303/.396/.683 hitter against the Jays with 27 doubles and 35 home runs in 347 at-bats, and a .340/.436/.763 hitter at Rogers Centre with 15 doubles and 17 home runs in 156 at-bats.

The Orioles' lead in the American League East is down to 1 1/2 games following their three-game losing streak. They're now 21-27 on the road.

The Orioles have scored 45 runs in the last 16 games. That's the issue. The rotation no longer should hold all the heat.