More on Britton, tonight's game and Castillo's injury

While the Orioles begin a three-game series tonight against the Rays at Camden Yards, a brief homestand before hitting the road again next week, closer Zach Britton will continue his injury rehab assignment at Single-A Frederick.

Britton will enter toward the end of the game, putting him in more of a late-inning mindset as he nears a return to the active roster. Pitch tonight at Frederick, pitch Monday at Triple-A Norfolk and rejoin the Orioles' bullpen on July 5.

Britton's return will take some pressure off the rotation. Mychal Givens can be used more in the middle innings, and manager Buck Showalter will have more choices when he avoids using certain guys.

Chris Tillman is supposed to start tonight, but his wife is due with their first child and the club's pitching plans suddenly could change. Tillman or Dylan Bundy. Stay tuned.

Tillman has lasted 1 1/3, 5 1/3, four and 4 1/3 innings in his last four starts, allowing a combined 23 earned runs and 24 total. His ERA held at 8.39 Sunday afternoon after he surrendered four earned runs (five total) and eight hits at Tropicana Field.

Showalter noted the progress that Tillman made despite the right-hander's failure to get through the fifth. Tillman felt the same.

"Better," he said. "Command was better with the fastball. It's a start."

Tillman has faced the Rays more than any opponent, with tonight marking his 27th career start. He's 8-10 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.219 WHIP in 151 innings.

Evan Longoria hit a three-run homer off Tillman Sunday and is 20-for-66 (.303) lifetime with four doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 13 RBIs. Logan Morrison is 6-for-17 (.353) with a double and triple.

The Orioles are seeing Jacob Faria for the second time in less than a week. Making his fourth major league start on Saturday, Faria was charged with three runs in six innings in an 8-3 loss at Tropicana Field. He walked one batter and struck out seven.

Welington Castillo and Adam Jones homered off Faria, who's held right-handers to a .191 average. Left-handers are batting .259.

Castillo was a late scratch last night with a sprained left knee sustained after slipping on the steps leading into the dugout, as Showalter explained on "O's Xtra" on MASN. He's already been on the disabled list twice with right shoulder tendinitis and a testicular injury. Is he destined to be injured for the cycle?

Head, shoulders, knees and ... knees and ...

Never mind.

Showalter said the Orioles will have a catcher in place today in case Castillo goes on the DL. Francisco Peña always is the leading candidate. What's the record for number of times having your contract purchased in one season?

My Twitter feed yesterday included two pointed questions. As opposed to the ones that are rounded for safety reasons, like the scissors you used in elementary school.

Why does Showalter keep sending Ubaldo Jiménez to the mound, and why does he keep batting a guy leadoff who doesn't get on base or steal them?

Well, Jiménez can't be used in a relief role unless the Orioles are fine with a short bullpen most nights. And it isn't Showalter's job to sign and release players. Jiménez is in the rotation again, and he remains the ultimate tease - a pitcher who can't find the plate one night and can't be touched on another night.

The guy batting leadoff last night, Joey Rickard, reached base three times.

Just when you think that you've got baseball figured out, it throws you a nasty curve.