masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgI’m not sure that I actually saw more than two pitches of Brian Matusz’s start last night until the fourth inning. I relied on the live box score and quick glances at the scoreboard.

The First-Year Player Draft forced my attention away from the field, but that won’t happen tonight, since today’s picks started a little after noon.

In the fifth round with the 155th overall selection, the Orioles chose Middle Georgia College left-hander Matt Taylor.

Taylor was 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 16…I’m not sure that I actually saw more than two pitches of Brian Matusz’s start last night until the fourth inning. I relied on the live box score and quick glances at the scoreboard.

Chris-Jakubauskas_Black-Pitching-Tall.gif

The First-Year Player Draft forced my attention away from the field, but that won’t happen tonight, since today’s picks started a little after noon.

In the fifth round with the 155th overall selection, the Orioles chose Middle Georgia College left-hander Matt Taylor.

Taylor was 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 16 games (15 starts), with 71 hits allowed, 29 walks and 128 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings. The Pirates drafted him in the 50th round in 2009,

Chris Jakubauskas makes his first start tonight since April 2010, when, as you’ve been reminded so often, a Lance Berkman line drive slammed off his head in the first inning while he was pitching for the Pirates.

Jakubauskas has posted a 6.39 ERA and 1.89 WHIP this season, with nine runs and 18 hits allowed in 12 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He’s 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in four career appearances, including two starts, against the Athletics.

Ryan Sweeney is 2-for-5 with an RBI against Jakubauskas. Kurt Suzuki is 2-for-6 with a double.

That’s about it.

Manager Buck Showalter says Alfredo Simon is available in relief after throwing 50 pitches on Sunday, but an early exit by Jakubauskas would likely bring Jeremy Accardo into the game and start a lot of baton passing.

Update: In the sixth round, the Orioles picked third baseman Nick Delmonico out of Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tenn., with the 185th overall pick.

Update: Left-hander Trent Howard out of Central Michigan went to the Orioles in the seventh round with the 215th overall selection.

Update: With their eighth-round pick, the 245th overall, the Orioles chose center fielder Johnny Ruettiger from Arizona State.

Update: In the ninth round, the Orioles selected another right-hander, Devin Jones of Mississippi State University. Baseball America ranked him the 79th-best right-hander in the draft. He joins Nos. 73 and 74.