Questions with and without answers

Just how long do the Orioles intend to stay with 13 pitchers and what's the motivation behind it?

I'm seriously asking anyone who's got inside information. Why should I do all the heavy lifting around here? I'm not getting any younger and my back flares up.

I wouldn't expect it to last long. And that's what ...

Nevermind, I've got it. The Orioles want to keep an extra pitcher until Monday's off day, figuring a fortified bullpen is more important than a full bench.

I sensed a few days ago that the Orioles preferred to hold onto Tyler Wilson rather than option him after Ubaldo Jimenez came off the paternity list. They wanted an additional long reliever with Dylan Bundy and Vance Worley in the rotation. Wilson could have backed up Jimenez on Thursday night in Minnesota, but he covered the last four innings last night in his first appearance since being optioned on July 3.

Wilson began to warm up in the fifth inning as the Rockies were tacking on two more runs against Chris Tillman. He entered the game in the sixth and retired all 12 batters he faced on 40 pitches.

Odrisamer Despaigne could piggyback Bundy again tonight as he did in his last appearance, when he shut out the Indians over 3 2/3 innings. But who's the long man behind Jimenez?

Do the Orioles make another roster move? Do they hold back Despaigne until Thursday if the bullpen is active early? Should I stop asking questions that can't possibly be answered this morning?

Of course, there also was the chance earlier this week that Jimenez would be traded to the Padres. The sides appeared to be real close, but money going to San Diego apparently became an issue with minor league pitchers Garrett Cleavinger and Jhon Peluffo also on the table.

I'm not viewing the failure to acquire Melvin Upton Jr. as a big loss. That's a luxury for a team that leads the majors in home runs.

Upton could have backed up Adam Jones in center field and provided insurance in case Mark Trumbo leaves as a free agent over the winter. He would have taken at-bats away from Hyun Soo Kim, who possesses the highest on-base percentage on the team. Upton was sporting a .304 OBP last night. I'm not losing sleep over it.

However, the deal would have removed Jimenez from the roster and given manager Buck Showalter a more traditional bullpen - one without a guy who never pitches.

The assumption here is that Jimenez starts Thursday in Minnesota and comes out of the rotation again, but it's dangerous to assume anything in this sport.

Bundy will get extra rest after tonight's game due to the off day on Monday. He's graduated from 3 1/3 to five innings and from 70 to 87 pitches in his two starts.

Bundy's never faced the Rockies or any of their hitters. Colorado right-hander Jon Gray has never faced the Orioles, but Pedro Alvarez is 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against him and Trumbo is 1-for-2 with a strikeout.

Gray is 6-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 17 starts. He's struck out 111 batters in 102 2/3 innings.

In his last three starts, Gray has allowed three runs and struck out 24 batters over 20 1/3 innings. He's completed seven innings in six of his last 11 starts and six innings in 10 of 11.

Left-handers are hitting .214 against Gray and right-handers are hitting .242.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy is 10-for-21 (.476) in his last six games and 25-for-66 (.379) in his last 18.