masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter wasn’t ready to commit to giving Kevin Gausman another start following tonight’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Gausman has allowed two runs in 13 innings since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Two quality starts against two first-place teams.

“Well, he’s done what it takes to be considered,” Showalter said. “He’s taking care of his end of it. And the good news for us is we’ve got some other people capable of pitching well, too. Miggy…Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn’t ready to commit to giving Kevin Gausman another start following tonight’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Gausman has allowed two runs in 13 innings since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Two quality starts against two first-place teams.

“Well, he’s done what it takes to be considered,” Showalter said. “He’s taking care of his end of it. And the good news for us is we’ve got some other people capable of pitching well, too. Miggy (Miguel Gonzalez) was throwing the ball well before he got hurt, so that bodes well. We’ll see how everybody feels the next day or two and take a look and see where we are. But I was hoping it would be an outcome similar.

“Gaus has pitched well in his two outings. Just hope he’s starting to grasp what it takes to consistently help this team win.”

Showalter said there’s room for Gausman and Gonzalez in the rotation.

“Like I said earlier, Gonzo can take another start on rehab, he can join us on Sunday, which would be out of the ‘pen, or he can go back in the rotation Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday,” Showalter said. “There’s always a scenario you can figure out. A lot of the dynamics have to do, too, with Manny (Machado’s) impending loss and a couple other things, how we get to the off day. But if Gonzo’s ready to pitch and ready to help us, we’ll activate him.”

Gausman allowed five hits, walked three and struck out three over six innings. He threw 101 pitches, one fewer than his last start against the Athletics that covered seven innings.

“Good again,” Showalter said. “He didn’t quite have the command that he had the last time out, but that’s pretty hard to duplicate. A little more effecient with some pitches, but he’s facing a real good team there offensively, so it’s hard to do that. You can’t just ask them to make outs early in the count. They’re not very cooperative.”

Delmon Young got the start tonight because he was 17-for-45 with three homers against Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle. Sticking to the script, he hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and singled in the fifth.

“Delmon, he’s a professional hitter. Very much like I describe Steve (Pearce),” Showalter said. “You know what you’re getting. He’s pretty consistent about what he does. He’s got a track record of following patterns that he’s had. He came in the big leagues early. A lot of times I forget he’s 28 years old.”

Nick Markakis collected two hits, including an RBI double in the seventh inning, to move past Brian Roberts into seventh place on the club’s all-time list. He’s two behind Ken Singleton for sixth place.

“That’s pretty cool, huh?” Showalter said. “I’m not surprised. One, he’s stayed in one place for a long time and two… When you’re using words to describe Nick, he’s just a dependable, consistent guy in more ways than one. I think the numbers he’s accumulated are just a byproduct of how he plays the game and how he lives his life.”

The rotation has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 11 of the last 14 games.

“That’s important,” Showalter said. “We’re looking for hopefully 12 out of 15. It’s another good performance by the pitching staff and that’s the stuff we’re going to need to compete for what we’re trying to do. Start out by hopefully winning our division. But it’s a formula you need to have.”