Jimenez vs. Happ tonight at Camden Yards

Ubaldo Jimenez made it back into the rotation last week because a spot opened up and he had past success against the Nationals and in D.C.

Jimenez remains in the rotation because Chris Tillman is still on the disabled list. It isn't due to his track record with the Blue Jays.

Whatever the reasons, Jimenez must serve as stopper tonight and the Orioles must find a way to break loose offensively. A season is slipping away.

Jimenez is 6-5 with a 4.91 ERA in 16 career games, 14 of them starts, against the Blue Jays. He allowed two runs in five innings on April 20, but followed up that outing by surrendering five runs in one-third of an inning on June 12 and five runs in 2 1/3 innings on June 17.

Jose Bautista is 3-for-33 against Jimenez, and Justin Smoak is 2-for-21.

Michael Saunders is 7-for-16 with three home runs, Melvin Upton Jr. is 6-for-19 with a double and home run, and Josh Donaldson is 5-for-23 with a double, triple and home run.

The Orioles have lost four of their last five games and now must face left-hander J.A. Happ, a Cy Young Award candidate who's 17-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 25 starts.

In his first two starts this month, Happ allowed one run and eight hits in 12 innings. In his last two starts, he's allowed eight runs and 13 hits in 12 1/3 innings. He's walked five batters and struck out 28 this month.

Happ faced the Orioles on June 11 and surrendered four runs in seven innings, including three home runs, in an 11-6 win. He gave up one run and three hits and struck out 11 batters in seven innings in a 9-1 win on July 30.

Happ is 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against the Orioles and 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in four starts at Camden Yards. Steve Pearce is expected back in the lineup because he's 9-for-25 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs versus Happ. But what about Pedro Alvarez, normally held out of the lineup against a left-hander? He's 4-for-10 with a double and home run against Happ.

J.J. Hardy is 4-for-21 with three doubles and Mark Trumbo is 0-for-8 with four strikeouts.

Hardy hit his eighth home run last night to equal is 2015 total.

Hyun Soo Kim is batting .321/.357/.434 (17-for-53) with four doubles, a triple, three RBIs and six runs scored in his last 14 games. All three of his outfield assists this season have come in August.