Tonight's game and wondering about the Division Series roster

A doubleheader on Friday, a day game on Saturday and a night game on Sunday.

No wonder I'm always confused.

Friday felt like a Saturday to me, and yesterday felt like a Sunday.

Tuesday has no feel. #Seinfeld

tillman-pitching-black-back-sidebar.jpgChris Tillman is 4-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts at Camden Yards, tying him with Bud Norris for the lowest single-season ERA in the ballpark's history (minimum 10 starts).

Tillman and Norris tied for the record in 2014. That's weird or special or something else. Pick an adjective.

Tillman has permitted three earned runs or fewer in 18 consecutive starts since June 10, tied with Steve Barber for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. He's posted a 2.24 ERA in that span, lowering his season ERA from 5.20 to 3.36.

The Yankees present a challenge today. Tillman is 5-5 with a 5.32 ERA in 13 lifetime starts against them, including 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in six home games.

Derek Jeter, playing his final game in Baltimore, is 8-for-23 (.348) against Tillman. Mark Teixeira is 6-for-18 (.333), Stephen Drew is 4-for-12 (.333) with a double, triple and home run, and Francisco Cervelli is 4-for-10 (.400) with a double and home run.

The Orioles will honor Jeter in a pregame ceremony. There's probably a gift involved. I'd just write a check to his favorite charity, but that's me.

Jeter is in an 0-for-20 slump. Maybe the Orioles should give him a hit. He certainly can't buy one right now.

Hiroki Kuroda will make the start for New York. He's 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last four outings against the Orioles since July 7, 2013, holding them to a .189 average with two walks and 17 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings.

Kuroda has worked at least six innings and allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts against the Orioles, one short of his longest streak against any team (the Astros).

Kuroda is 0-2 in three starts here. He's never won at Camden Yards, Marlins Park in Miami, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Citi Field in New York and Comerica Park in Detroit.

Alejandro De Aza is 6-for-15 (.400) with a double and home run against Kuroda. Kelly Johnson is 8-for-23 (.348) with two doubles and a home run, and Adam Jones is 10-for-31 (.323).

Should be fairly easy to write out this lineup. I've just given you the left fielder, third baseman and center fielder.

J.J. Hardy is 3-for-29 (.103) with a double and home run, Nelson Cruz is 3-for-22 (.136), Ryan Flaherty is 1-for-15 (.067) with a home run, and Steve Pearce is 1-for-9 (.111) with a double.

Hardy figures to remain at shortstop unless he wakes up with more discomfort in his lower back. Cruz and Pearce also figure to start despite their career numbers versus Kuroda.

The magic number for clinching the American League East holds at five and the Orioles still have a chance to do it at home.

It may be too early to project the roster for the Division Series, but I'm intrigued by the idea that at least four members of the opening day roster could be excluded - starter Ubaldo Jimenez, reliever Ryan Webb, first baseman Chris Davis, outfielder David Lough and catcher Steve Clevenger.

Of the five, Lough has the best chance of making it, but can the Orioles carry him while also keeping De Aza?

Davis' suspension opens up a spot, but the Orioles could keep Johnson and Jimmy Paredes.

I say it's too early to project the roster because the Orioles haven't confirmed whether they'll go with a 12-man pitching staff, as they did in 2012, or keep an extra position player.

I've heard some folks suggest that the Orioles could include Quintin Berry as a pinch-runner, since he's 30-for-30 in stolen base attempts. Well, if the choice is Berry or De Aza, I think the Orioles will go with the guy who's been starting in left field.

If the Orioles carry 13 position players, the roll call may sound like this:

Catchers: Caleb Joseph, Nick Hundley

Infielders: J.J. Hardy, Steve Pearce, Jonathan Schoop, Ryan Flaherty, Johnny Paredes, Kelly Johnson

Outfielders: Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Alejandro De Aza, Nelson Cruz, Delmon Young




Orioles lineup vs. Yankees
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