Orioles losing Tillman and trying to win tonight's game

The Orioles will announce today that Chris Tillman is going on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. Or they may refer to it as "soreness." As long as the word "torn" isn't included, it probably doesn't matter.

Tillman is eligible to return on Sept. 5. You can check the schedule and do the math and figure out the increased difficulty in Tillman becoming the Orioles' first 20-game winner since Mike Boddicker in 1984. He needs five more victories.

Tillman joins reliever Darren O'Day on the disabled list, two of the more important pitchers on the roster. And it's happening while the Orioles remain in third place in the American League East, two games from the lead.

It's really gut-check time.

Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman picked an ideal time to give the Orioles back-to-back quality starts in the two-game sweep of the Nationals. But can Wade Miley be the pitcher that the team envisioned after acquiring him from the Mariners? And is Ubaldo Jimenez a temporary replacement for Tillman or has he worked his way back into the rotation?

We only know that Jimenez is starting Thursday night, which figured to happen based on his past success against the Nationals.

The Orioles swept the Nationals last year in a three-game series in D.C., winning by scores of 4-1, 4-3 and 5-4. In the opener, Jimenez allowed only an unearned run in six innings to gain the win, and he had an RBI single that scored catcher Caleb Joseph.

Joseph is at Triple-A Norfolk, but Jimenez is hovering.

Jimenez is 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA in eight career starts against the Nats. He's 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA in four starts in D.C., with three earned runs (four total) in 29 1/3 innings. Sort of like matching him up with the Padres.

His last start against the Nationals prior to 2015 occurred on July 9, 2011 in D.C. while pitching for the Rockies. He allowed only one run in eight innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. We're not talking about a lot of recent success, but it counts as a track record.

The Orioles will bring up a pitcher to replace Tillman and Joe Gunkel is in play after being scratched from last night's start at Triple-A Norfolk. But there are other choices, guys who already are on the 40-man roster.

Someone has to serve as the long man behind Miley, who starts tonight after lasting only 1 2/3 innings in his previous outing. Parker Bridwell can go multiple innings and is available.

Miley needs to step up more than ever with Tillman sidelined. He's registered a 9.53 ERA and 1.941 WHIP in four starts with the Orioles covering only 17 innings. He's 1-3 with a 3.78 ERA in six career starts against the Nationals and 1-0 with a 0.92 ERA in three starts on their home field, with two earned runs (three total) in 19 2/3 innings.

The 11 walks aren't particularly attractive when placed next to the 12 strikeouts.

The Nats are batting .424 (36-for-85) against Miley. Ryan Zimmerman is 5-for-8 with three doubles and a triple, Anthony Rendon is 6-for-9 with a double, Chris Heisey is 5-for-11 with a home run and Daniel Murphy is 4-for-12.

Tanner Roark is starting tonight for the Nats and Jonathan Schoop will enjoy the flashbacks. Schoop hit his first career walk-off home run against Roark on July 10, 2015 at Camden Yards.

Roark is 13-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 26 games this season, including one in relief. He's allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last seven starts and is 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA in four outings this month.

Left-handers are batting .204 against Roark and right-handers are hitting .260.

Roark is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three appearances (two starts) versus the Orioles. He's allowed nine runs and 13 hits in 12 innings.

J.J. Hardy is 4-for-6 with a double against Roark and Schoop is 2-for-3 with two home runs.

The lineups for the next two games won't include Pedro Alvarez, as the Orioles lose their designated hitter.

Vance Worley is the fifth Oriole to record a save this season, joining Jimenez, O'Day, Zach Britton and Brad Brach. Worley and Jimenez notched their first career saves this month.