Miley gets another chance before the break

MINNESOTA - Orioles manager Buck Showalter had a decision to make. Keep Wade Miley in the rotation and in turn, or reinsert Chris Tillman following his separation from the team for the birth of his daughter.

Go with the cold hand or a guy who hadn't been around in almost a week and would be flying into Minnesota late the night before his assignment.

Showalter debated whether to put Miley in the bullpen for the weekend and give him a fresh start, instead of today's start, coming out of the break. Miley made it clear to his manager that he wanted another chance. And Showalter wasn't real keen on having Tillman, following Thursday's work day at Double-A Bowie, facing the Twins under less than ideal circumstances.

Decision made.

Miley hasn't completed the third inning in three of his last six starts and hasn't gone the full six innings over that period. He led the American League with 48 walks heading into last night's slate and was averaging 5.2 per nine innings.

His work days are good. His stuff is crisp while warming in the bullpen. But it gets lost somewhere between the side mound and the main one.

The last outing was especially bad, with Miley allowing seven runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. The anger and frustration were evident later as he spoke to a small group of reporters. He's searching for the plate and for answers.

Miley's made only one career start against the Twins, surrendering five runs and six hits in four innings on May 28, 2016 in Seattle. He also walked four batters and served up three home runs.

Miguel Sanó homered in his only at-bat against Miley. Joe Mauer also homered, but he's on the disabled list with a back injury.

Jason Castro is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts.

It would be deemed a good day if a starter avoided the one big inning that routinely dooms him. They've allowed three-plus runs in an inning 35 times since May 1 to lead the majors. It happened again last night with Kevin Gausman.

"Trying to minimize damage," Showalter said. "I know from reading some of our pitching coaches, that's one thing they keep talking to our pitchers about in the minor leagues is minimizing the damage. You've got second and third and nobody, how do you get out of that with just giving up one run? Pitch to the hitter's emotions, so to speak."

The Orioles are confronted with another unfamiliar pitcher. They seem to come at the team like a conga line.

The Twins are starting rookie left-hander Adalberto Mejía, making his 13th start this season after one relief appearance in 2016. He's posted a 4.32 ERA and 1.509 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings, and he's averaging 4.5 walks per nine innings.

In his last four starts, Mejía has allowed five runs in 22 1/3 innings, but he's also walked 10 batters.

Left-handers are hitting .319 against Mejía and right-handers are batting .247. He's 2-2 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.686 WHIP in seven home starts and 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.243 WHIP in five starts on the road.

A roster move must be made this morning to return Tillman to the 25-man roster. The Orioles could hold onto second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who had a pinch-hit single last night, and remove one of their shortstops, with Jonathan Schoop or Manny Machado capable of filling in for J.J. Hardy.