masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDid Orioles manager Buck Showalter give us a preview today of his Game 1 lineup in the Division Series?

He’s not going to say so, but it looks that way to me.

Ryan Flaherty has two of the six errors that Orioles third basemen have committed over the last nine games, but he’s regarded as a good defender at every infield position and he’s got Showalter’s trust. I’d expect him to be the regular third baseman in the playoffs, but we’ll see.

Orioles third basemen committed 13 errors last…Did Orioles manager Buck Showalter give us a preview today of his Game 1 lineup in the Division Series?

He’s not going to say so, but it looks that way to me.

Ryan Flaherty has two of the six errors that Orioles third basemen have committed over the last nine games, but he’s regarded as a good defender at every infield position and he’s got Showalter’s trust. I’d expect him to be the regular third baseman in the playoffs, but we’ll see.

flaherty-swing-white-sidebar.jpgOrioles third basemen committed 13 errors last season, all by Manny Machado. They’ve committed 26 this season.

Nick Hundley also figures to be behind the plate in Game 1. He’s caught Chris Tillman’s last 13 starts. That’s a pattern, my friends.

Showalter hasn’t announced his rotation for the Division Series beyond Game 1, when Tillman takes the mound. Hundley won’t be on the bench for it.

Hundley batted .314 in August, going 11-for-35. He’s hitting .235 this month (8-for-34).

Caleb Joseph is in an 0-for-30 slump in his last 10 games. However, he’s 23-for-57 (40 percent) throwing out runners attempting to steal. Hundley is 5-for-35 (14 percent) this season, including 5-for-26 with the Orioles.

Joseph’s percentage has dropped, but the league average is 27 percent.

Alejandro De Aza should stay in left field against right-handers. Nelson Cruz could move to left against southpaws, with Delmon Young serving as the designated hitter.

Young is 9-for-20 in his last six games. Cruz is batting .363 this month.

Jonathan Schoop, starting today at second base, is 5-for-52 in his last 19 games.

Update: Schoop hit his 16th homer in the fifth to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Schoop hadn’t homered since Sept. 4 and was 5-for-53 before clearing the left field fence.

Miguel Gonzalez has pitched well so far, allowing five hits, striking out two and walking none in five scoreless innings. He has thrown 62 pitches, 45 for strikes.

Update II: That’s it for Gonzalez, who gives way to Ubaldo Jimenez to start the sixth. Gonzalez ends the regular season with a 3.23 ERA.

Update III: Gonzalez combined with Jimenez, Andrew Miller, Tommy Hunter, Darren O’Day and Zach Britton to blank the Blue Jays 1-0 in the regular season finale.

Schoop’s homer stood up as the winning run. The Orioles wrap the regular season with a 96-66 record, and still await their ALDS opponent.

Update IV: The Orioles now know they’ll play the Tigers in the ALDS after Detroit beat the Twins 3-0 to win the AL Central.

The Orioles went 1-5 against the Tigers during the regular season, but didn’t play them after May 14. Game 1 will be Thursday at Camden Yards.