Pitching in with ideas for the bullpen (updated with Crichton)

DETROIT - Without a pair of cheaters in my laptop bag, it was a little more difficult yesterday to read between the lines as the Orioles made another roster move.

The Orioles are holding onto three catchers, but not for long. They're expected to part with Francisco Peña today - later than anticipated - and add a seventh reliever after carrying an expanded bench through the first 37 games of the season.

A second fresh arm could be added after manager Buck Showalter used up everyone last night and had Ubaldo Jiménez ready if the game carried past the 13th inning.

The club did a fine job maintaining a short bullpen with a constant flow of options and recalls, but the party's over. The starters aren't working into the later innings and some relievers have needed extended rest periods. Turn up the lights and shut off the music.

Gabriel Ynoa was eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list yesterday, but he's not quite ready. He's throwing a bullpen session today to further test his injured hamstring. Logan Verrett hasn't been in the minors for the required 10 days since the Orioles optioned him on May 10. Same goes for Vidal Nuño (Sunday).

Stefan Crichton was optioned on May 7 and may be eligible today, depending on when the clock started.

Update: Crichton is eligible today and will be with the Orioles in Detroit. He's being recalled again.

Crichton hasn't pitched since working three scoreless innings on Friday. He's 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA in seven outings with Norfolk this season. He's allowed four runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings with the Orioles in three appearances this season.

Mike Wright started last night for Triple-A Norfolk and allowed two runs in seven innings in a 5-0 loss to Gwinnett. Tyler Wilson started the previous night. Chris Lee pitched five innings on Sunday and Jayson Aquino went 4 2/3 innings Saturday night.

Jordan Kipper is scheduled tonight to make his second start with the Tides.

Left-hander Paul Fry is in play for the Orioles. He threw two innings on Sunday and that counts as fresh.

Outfielder Craig Gentry made it through waivers yesterday and was outrighted to Norfolk. The Orioles previously had some doubts that he'd go unclaimed. There had to be some contract stuff involved here for the Orioles to make the decision yesterday and keep a third catcher for a night.

Removing Peña from the 40-man roster today would open a second spot. How else are the Orioles eventually going to fit outfielder Michael Bourn and pitcher Edwin Jackson?

Just reading between the lines here.

Bourn could be a left-handed version of Gentry, but another position player would need to be removed for the Orioles to carry a four-man bench and seven-man bullpen. Which brings us back to Hyun Soo Kim and what the Orioles might have in store for him.

Joey Rickard and Trey Mancini have options, but they're valued for different reasons - Rickard more for his glove and speed, Mancini for his bat. And they're both right-handed hitters.

Rickard's diving catch in the first inning to rob Mikie Mahtook and leave the bases loaded changed the direction of the game. The bullpens would do the same much later.

Bourn and Jackson have opt-out clauses in their contracts. Jackson's clause arrives on June 1 and the Orioles are intrigued with the idea of using him in various roles out of the bullpen.

Jackson started for Norfolk in his debut, but only out of necessity and only for three innings. His next three appearances have lasted 1 2/3, 1 1/3 and one inning.

Jimmy Yacabonis, also not on the 40-man, finally gave up his first run Sunday in 18 2/3 innings. He wasn't used the next two nights.

It's not going to matter who's in the bullpen if the starters don't provide more innings.

"I felt really, really good, but once again command not there," said left-hander Wade Miley, who didn't record an out last night in the sixth. "Fastball command, really, more than anything. Had a pretty good changeup. Probably the first time all year I've been able to use it effectively, but it's hard to pitch up here without command of the fastball and that's where I was at.

"I'm going to try to put it behind me and move forward and stop trying to think about getting deeper in the game and just go out there and pitch and see where it gets me. Maybe I'm putting a little too much pressure on myself. I don't know. I've been a guy who commands the ball pretty well my career and all of a sudden, this. But it's one of those things.

"It's tough to pitch without a fastball."

Or enough available relievers.

Trivia: Jiménez has faced which team the most times in his major league career?

Answer: The Tigers.

Jiménez is 6-11 with a 5.49 ERA in 21 career starts against the Tigers, with a 1.517 WHIP in 118 innings. He's 3-8 with a 6.83 ERA and 1.601 WHIP in 11 starts at Comerica Park, with 47 runs (45 earned) and 72 hits allowed in 59 1/3 innings.

Victor Martinez is 12-for-34 (.353) with two doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs against Jiménez. Miguel Cabrera is 15-for-47 (.319) with four doubles and a home run, J.D. Martinez is 5-for-14 (.357) with a double and two home runs, and Justin Upton is 8-for-30 (.267) with three doubles, a triple and two home runs.

Michael Fulmer, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, is 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA in seven starts this season. He's registered a 1.000 WHIP in 46 innings and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all seven outings.

In his last two starts, Fulmer has surrendered only two earned runs (three total) and struck out 16 batters in 15 innings.

Left-handers are hitting .152 against Fulmer and right-handers are hitting .265, making him a reverse splits guy. During his brief career, left-handers are hitting .204 and right-handers are hitting .244.

Fulmer made two starts against the Orioles last season and allowed six earned runs (seven total) and eight hits in 11 1/3 innings for a 4.76 ERA.

Jonathan Schoop went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs against Fulmer. Manny Machado was 1-for-6 with a home run and Adam Jones was 2-for-4 with a double.

In case you missed it, the Diamondbacks released former Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz, who was 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in 11 relief appearances with Triple-A Reno. He allowed 12 runs and 26 hits in 17 2/3 innings, and left-handers were batting .341 against him.