Tillman goes for 15th win tonight (updated)

The Orioles remain in trade discussions with the Padres regarding Melvin Upton Jr., with money and prospects remaining the key talking points. It's not as simple as an Upton-for-Ubaldo Jimenez swap or it would be done.

In the meantime, the Blue Jays reportedly have moved ahead of the Orioles and now are the favorites for Upton. Guess the Orioles can't be first in everything.

Update: FOXSports.com is reporting that the Blue Jays will acquire Upton for a Single-A prospect.

Executive vice president Dan Duquette also wants at least one more starting pitcher. The complications are a thin market and teams wanting young pitching prospects in return.

The Angels reportedly are willing to move left-hander Hector Santiago, which to me is bigger news than they're willing to "listen." What executive doesn't listen? Does he check his phone and let it go to voicemail? A player may be deemed untouchable, but there's no harm in taking the call and finding out what's offered.

The Orioles have no intention of trading Manny Machado, but Duquette doesn't answer his phone with, "Hello? And DO NOT ask me about Manny!"

Santiago, 28, is making $5 million this season and is under team control through 2017. The Orioles have liked him in the past and most definitely would want to plug him into their rotation if there's a match.

The last part is always the catch.

Santiago is 8-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 20 starts this season. He faced the Orioles on May 20 in Anaheim and allowed three home runs in 2 2/3 innings.

The Orioles have been scouting Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson - they were represented again last night - and maintain their interest in Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner from what I've gleaned. But we can debate how much of an upgrade we're talking about with the latter, who's 4-7 with a 4.79 ERA and 1.405 WHIP.

Cashner is on a mini-roll, however, with two runs allowed in his last two starts over 11 2/3 innings. No walks and 17 strikeouts.

The Orioles want to improve their starting depth, so these pitchers and others are in play.

The Astros have made Scott Feldman available, in case you're a fan of reunions. And these teams have been trade partners in the past, as I'm sure you remember.

Honestly, who could forget Lee May for Enos Cabell and Mike Cuellar for Curt Blefary?

There were other players involved in those deals, but I've taken the joke far enough.

Chris Tillman and Chris Sale are tied for the major league lead with 14 wins. One of them is starting tonight, the other is serving a five-day suspension. Both of them are real cutups.

Tillman has allowed one run in seven innings in each of his last four starts. He's averaging four hits allowed in that span. He's 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 1.000 WHIP this month.

By the way, Tillman and Sale both have 3.18 ERAs. Sale has made two fewer starts.

Tillman never has faced the Rockies. They designated Brandon Barnes for assignment yesterday, perhaps overlooking how he's 2-for-3 with a home run against Tillman. Couldn't wait one more day?

Former Oriole Mark Reynolds is 0-for-4 with a walk and four strikeouts against Tillman. He's also still hilarious.

Chad "The Bus" Bettis is 8-6 with a 5.31 ERA and 1.465 WHIP in 20 starts over 115 1/3 innings. His 138 hits and 68 earned runs allowed led the National League before last night.

Bettis has registered quality starts in his last three outings. Right-handers are batting .306 against him this season and left-handers are batting .283.

Believe it or not, Bettis has made one start against the Orioles. It happened during his rookie season in 2013 at Camden Yards and he allowed eight runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. He also walked four batters.

We said it wouldn't get weird, but six of those runs were unearned.

The Orioles scored seven runs in the third inning. A passed ball by catcher Wilin Rosario and an error on shortstop Troy Tulowitzki were quite damaging.

Bud Norris started that game for the Orioles and was followed to the mound by Troy Patton and Josh Stinson.

Machado is 2-for-3 with a double against Bettis. Pedro Alvarez is 1-for-6 with a home run.