masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNEW YORK – Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to withhold the official announcement on his Division Series rotation. However, he said today that he’s leaning toward going with 11 pitchers on his staff.

Showalter will use four starters in the series, giving him a seven-man bullpen.

By using 11 pitchers, Showalter would be able to keep an extra position player. The decision may come down to David Lough or Quintin Berry as an extra outfielder.

Showalter also said he’s leaning toward…NEW YORK – Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to withhold the official announcement on his Division Series rotation. However, he said today that he’s leaning toward going with 11 pitchers on his staff.

Showalter will use four starters in the series, giving him a seven-man bullpen.

By using 11 pitchers, Showalter would be able to keep an extra position player. The decision may come down to David Lough or Quintin Berry as an extra outfielder.

lough-throw-orange-sidebar.jpgShowalter also said he’s leaning toward starting Ubaldo Jimenez in the final regular season game Sunday in Toronto. Chris Tillman and Wei-Yin Chen will start the first two games.

The Blue Jays are listing Drew Hutchison, J.A. Happ and R.A. Dickey as their starters. No Marcus Stroman, who earned a six-game suspension from Major League Baseball after firing a pitch behind catcher Caleb Joseph’s head.

Chris Davis has reported to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. He’s going to start playing in instructional league games.

A win today would put the Orioles 20 games above .500 against the American League East (46-26). The last time they finished a season 20 or more games over .500 in the division was 1980 (49-29).

The Orioles have three pitchers with 13 or more wins, equaling their total from the previous eight seasons combined (Chris Tillman in 2013, Erik Bedard in 2006 and 2007). The last time the Orioles had three pitchers with 13 or more wins in a season was 1997 (Scott Erickson 16, Jimmy Key 16 and Mike Mussina 15).

The last time the Orioles had three 10-game winners in a season was 2005.

Zach Britton became the eighth American League left-hander to save 36 or more games in a season and the third with the Orioles, joining Randy Myers (45 in 1997) and B.J. Ryan (36 in 2005).