Thoughts on the team and tonight's game

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was cryptic and coy yesterday while discussing his rotation, confirming two starters for the Diamondbacks series and alluding to health issues that needed further investigating.

Do we assume that Chris Tillman is making the start tonight? That Dylan Bundy could be pushed back instead of making Sunday's start, since it's listed as TBD?

Does it matter if the Orioles can't score runs?

There isn't a combination that's working for the Orioles. Showalter went with a more standard lineup against right-hander Clay Buchholz, with Hyun Soo Kim in left, Mark Trumbo in right and Pedro Alvarez as the designated hitter. None of the newbies.

None of the benefits. The team scored one run and lost a chance to get back into a tie for the top wild card.

No point in discussing the division title. The math says it's still a possibility, but it sure feels like history.

The Tigers and Astros are a game behind the Orioles for the second wild card. The Mariners are two back. It must be hard to focus while looking over your shoulder, but that's part of the gig.

Can we please drop the theory that the Orioles have quit? This happens multiple times a season. They stop hitting, they experience a lapse in defense, and suddenly they no longer care.

They aren't rolling over. They may be pressing, but that's caring.

Chris Davis didn't range too far to his right to prevent a ground ball from getting through because he's quit. Brad Brach and Matt Wieters didn't have a breakdown in communication on Aaron Hill's bunt because their minds wandered.

"You hang up."

"No, you hang up."

I'm also reading that the Orioles should fire Showalter. Because he's got a team picked to finish last by just about everyone on the planet and kept it in contention all season, including first place for a large chunk of it. The rotation has ranked near the bottom in ERA all summer, key players have been hurt, the bats keep going into deep freeze, and the Orioles would make the playoffs if the season ended this morning.

So yes, let's change managers. It's on him.

I just hope the calls for his head are done out of frustration. I get frustration. I just can't back the ridiculous.

Tillman is making his third start since coming off the disabled list. He's allowed four runs and eight hits in 11 2/3 innings, with two walks and 10 strikeouts.

Though the teams have played each other 18 times, Tillman is making only his second start against the Red Sox. He allowed one run and five hits over seven innings on June 14 at Fenway Park.

Tillman is 10-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 19 career starts against the Red Sox. The current group is batting .218.

Brock Holt is 6-for-11, David Ortiz is 7-for-36 with two doubles and a home run, Xander Bogaerts is 2-for-20 with a home run, Mookie Betts is 2-for-11 with a double and Aaron Hill is 2-for-16 with a double and home run.

David Price is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA in four starts against the Orioles this season. In the last three, he's allowed six runs and 11 hits, walked none and struck out 24 over 22 innings.

Price is 10-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 23 career starts against the Orioles and 5-0 with a 3.05 ERA in nine starts at Camden Yards. Trumbo is 9-for-31 with two doubles and two home runs, Davis is 9-for-31 with two home runs and Drew Stubbs is 4-for-11 with a triple. Manny Machado has three home runs in 31 at-bats.

Nolan Reimold is 4-for-34 with a home run, and Showalter has sat him against Price in previous games.

Price is 7-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 13 starts in the second half.