masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgChris Tillman came off the disabled list to make his last start and gave the Orioles six innings of one-run baseball in Detroit.
What will they get in his second game?
Tillman walked only one Tigers batter after issuing five free passes in two innings against the Astros and going on the disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder. I’m taking it as a signal that he’s feeling much better.
The Orioles seem confident, as well, but not to the point where they stop monitoring him.

“We…

Chris Tillman came off the disabled list to make his last start and gave the Orioles six innings of one-run baseball in Detroit.

What will they get in his second game?

Tillman walked only one Tigers batter after issuing five free passes in two innings against the Astros and going on the disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder. I’m taking it as a signal that he’s feeling much better.

The Orioles seem confident, as well, but not to the point where they stop monitoring him.

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“We always monitor,” said manager Buck Showalter. “He’s getting an extra day like we’re trying to do with all our guys, but he feels good. He was sore in the right places and I’m hoping that’s not an issue (tonight), but it’s something we’ll keep an eye out for.”

Tillman is making his fifth start against the Rays. The teams may as well share a spring training facility. Wait until the Orioles face Jake Odorizzi on Sunday for the sixth time.

Tillman is 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA against the Rays in 2016 and 8-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 24 career games.

Evan Longoria is 17-for-60 with four doubles and seven home runs against Tillman. Logan Forsythe is 9-for-30 with three doubles, Steven Souza Jr. is 6-for-18 with a double and home run and Alexei Ramirez is 5-for-11 with a home run.

Kevin Kiermaier is 2-for-22 against Tillman and Corey Dickerson is 2-for-11 with a double.

Logan Morrison is 6-for-14 with a double and triple, but Tillman also dodges him due to the wrist injury.

A win tonight would give Tillman a career-high 17.

The Orioles get their third look at Rays right-hander Matt Andriese, who’s 7-7 with a 4.46 ERA in 26 games this season, including 16 starts. He allowed two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 5-0 loss on June 25 and seven runs and nine hits in five innings on Sept. 5 in a 7-3 loss.

Andriese is 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA five career games (two starts) versus the Orioles, with 13 runs and 19 hits allowed in 12 2/3 innings. He’s 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in three games (one start) at Camden Yards, with six runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The current Orioles are batting .315 against Andriese. Adam Jones is 4-for-8 and Chris Davis is 3-for-7 with two home runs.

Will another outfielder show up at the ballpark this afternoon? The Orioles figure to summon one more with Steve Pearce and Joey Rickard injured and Mark Trumbo’s status in doubt due to back spasms.

If not today, it will happen sooner rather than later.