More thoughts on the bullpen

The Orioles are back home tonight for only the fourth time in their last 20 games. They're 33-14 at Camden Yards. A team besieged by illness may have found its tonic.

A three-game series with the Indians and Dylan Bundy's first major league start in Baltimore are prime attractions, but let's not forget what's happening in Bowie. Darren O'Day will pitch an inning, most likely the first, to provide more evidence that his right hamstring has healed and he's ready to come off the disabled list.

The Orioles will have a few more days to decide how to make room for him in the bullpen. He's not expected to be activated before Sunday or Monday.

O'Day's production, balanced splits and leadership are missed. Let's focus on the second element.

Right-handers are batting .235 against O'Day and left-handers are hitting .231. He isn't pigeonholed into a specialist role. He also isn't pigeon toed, which might require another trip to the disabled list. I'm not exactly sure how that works.

Having O'Day back allows manager Buck Showalter to be more careful with Mychal Givens, who's much better versus right-handers. Left-handers are 20-for-50 against him. Right-handers are hitting .168.

O'Day, Givens, closer Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Donnie Hart are set unless the Orioles make a trade for a left-handed specialist and option Hart. Chaz Roe is out of options. Ubaldo Jimenez and Odrisamer Despaigne are the long men with Bundy and Vance Worley in the rotation.

Jimenez hasn't pitched since a July 8 start against the Angels, when he allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings to leave his ERA at 7.38 and WHIP at 1.971 in 18 games over 81 2/3 innings. He opened the most recent homestand before tonight.

What's the plan with Jimenez besides keeping him out of harm's way? The Orioles are playing too many close games in a pennant race for mop-up duty and manager Buck Showalter hasn't been in such a bind that he's been forced to use Jimenez.

Showalter passed over Jimenez again by naming Worley as Sunday's starter. The Orioles are shortening up Tyler Wilson's starts with Triple-A Norfolk in case they want to call him up as a starter or reliever. As long as he's available without requiring four days' rest.

With the bullpen as it's currently constructed, the choices to make room for O'Day are to option Despaigne or Hart, or designate Roe or Jimenez. A trade, of course, is another avenue.

How badly do the Orioles want to keep that second left-hander? It's certainly part of this equation.

The moving parts could be set in further motion if the Orioles wait until Monday to activate O'Day. Worley starts Sunday and then could return to the bullpen as a long man, with the Orioles naming another starter when the turn comes up again on Friday in Toronto. Might depend on his effectiveness. But a spot still must be cleared for O'Day.

Confused yet? My head is spinning, but it might be the flu.

Brach lowered his ERA to 0.86 in 52 1/3 innings. He hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 14 appearances over 16 2/3 innings.

Caleb Joseph could make his fourth start in a row tonight if Matt Wieters' right foot remains swollen and sore. Joseph singled twice yesterday for his first multi-hit game since May 12.

"It was great," he said. "It's been frustrating. You just want to put together quality at-bats and just try to grind it out."

Joseph's one-out single in the seventh inning can't be overlooked. Julio Borbon followed with his first hit since Aug. 2, 2013 and Jonathan Schoop delivered a clutch two-run double to right field to expand the lead to 4-1.

"Anytime you can contribute, that's a great thing, and especially to start a rally that gives the back end of the bullpen and Chris (Tillman) at that time a little breathing room," Joseph said. "That's a huge positive. Something to build on.

"I'm not going to work any harder or lesser because I got a couple hits, but the routine stays the same and hopefully continue to find holes."