Jimenez getting another shot as a starter

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was trying to find the right spot to give Ubaldo Jimenez his next start.

The first person who says "San Diego" must leave the classroom.

Showalter wanted to adjust the rotation and provide Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman with extra rest. He lost an off day today with the Orioles forced into a one-game series in Minnesota, but he's got Monday's open date on the schedule.

He's also got Jimenez facing the Twins. Buckle up.

Jimenez is 18-13 with a 4.39 ERA in 39 career starts on six or more days' rest, and opponents are batting .234, the lowest average against him.

Tonight is the extreme.

Jimenez hasn't pitched since July 8 against the Angels, when he allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings and left to a chorus of boos. His ERA rose to 7.38 and his WHIP to 1.971 in 81 2/3 innings. Any chance a long layoff could make things worse?

"You think about it, but it's kind of like post All-Star break with everybody," Showalter said. "The start of the season and post All-Star break are a challenging time to get your pitching back and running again, everybody back on some form of schedule.

"I'm hoping that it's a positive for him. Anything that is a little different look, something you haven't normally done when you're struggling sometimes can work positively. I don't know. That's why I want to make sure that we have coverage. It also gives some people an extra day that are in need of an extra day, I think. And he would have to pitch that game some out of the bullpen or start it. I'd rather put him in a familiar role as opposed to putting him in the bullpen."

Here are Jimenez's numbers again versus the Twins: 5-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts), 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA in six starts at Target Field, held them to one earned run (two total), walked none and struck out nine in seven innings on April 7.

"We had, not a whole lot of options, but he might surprise us. Not me, but I know some people," Showalter said.

"We tried to pick a place where he's feels comfortable and has been successful, and that might be the place for him. He's made, what, six starts there?"

Exactly. And Vance Worley is available to pitch long relief if needed. The Orioles could turn the Vanimal loose. All sorts of possibilities.

Brian Dozier is 6-for-19 with a double and seven strikeouts against Jimenez. Eduardo Escobar is 3-for-5 with two doubles

The Orioles opened the season by sweeping the Twins in a three-game series at Camden Yards. They beat the Twins twice at Target Field on May 10-11 after the opener was rained out.

The Orioles went 0-7 against the Twins last season, a big contributor to their .500 season and non-playoff finish.

Right-hander Kyle Gibson is 3-6 with a 4.67 ERA in 1w starts. His best was his most recent, when he held the Red Sox to one run and two hits over eight innings.

Gibson faced the Orioles on April 6 and allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings, with five walks, in a 4-2 loss. He's 1-1 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.662 WHIP in four career starts against the Orioles.

J.J. Hardy is 3-for-7 with a double and home run against Gibson. Jonathan Schoop is 3-for-7 with two doubles, Manny Machado is 3-for-8, Chris Davis is 2-for-8 with a home run, Mark Trumbo is 1-for-7 with a home run and Adam Jones is 1-for-11 with a double.