masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter doesn’t have a set lineup, in part because of his roster’s flexibility and in part because each day brings another injury that forces him to make adjustments on the fly.

If any sort of pattern is developing, it involves first base and designated hitter, where Showalter is using Mark Reynolds and Chris Davis, respectively, when they’re both in the lineup.

Showalter believes that Davis is more comfortable at DH than Reynolds, and both players are swinging hot…Orioles manager Buck Showalter doesn’t have a set lineup, in part because of his roster’s flexibility and in part because each day brings another injury that forces him to make adjustments on the fly.

If any sort of pattern is developing, it involves first base and designated hitter, where Showalter is using Mark Reynolds and Chris Davis, respectively, when they’re both in the lineup.

Showalter believes that Davis is more comfortable at DH than Reynolds, and both players are swinging hot bats. No reason to fix what isn’t broken, except when the Orioles lose their DH in the next two series.

Davis went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer last night. He’s batting .354 with three doubles, seven homers and 16 RBIs in his last 21 games.

Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a double. He’s got six doubles, four homers, 13 RBIs, 15 walks and 13 runs scored in his last 21 games.

Maybe he should strain his oblique more often. He’s been pretty good since returning.

“His path seems to be better to the ball,” Showalter said. “The barrel seems to be staying in the zone a little longer.”

The Orioles would like Davis to keep his bat barrel out of the dugout before somebody gets hurt.

reynolds-home-white-sidebar.jpgOn another note, the Orioles improved their interleague record to 6-2 last night after going 7-11 last season. They snapped the Pirates’ streak of five consecutive series wins, the franchise’s longest since 1992.

The Orioles have won six of their last eight games and three straight series after dropping four in a row.

All nine of Jake Arrieta’s strikeouts last night were swinging.

Steve Pearce went 2-for-3 with an RBI against his former team. He also leads the league in long fly ball outs.

Wilson Betemit had one extra-base hit and two RBIs in his previous 14 games before collecting a single, double and home run last night and driving in three runs.

“I tried to prepare early,” he said. “Sometimes they threw me too many breaking balls and I was too quick to get to the ball. I was a little more patient at the plate and I swung the bat.”

Adam Jones is 6-for-11 with two doubles lifetime against Erik Bedard, who starts tonight for the Pirates. Matt Wieters is 3-for-9 with two homers and three RBIs.

And finally, I wanted to pass along one more comment from Dr. Michael Collins, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program who’s been treating second baseman Brian Roberts.

On Roberts’ return to the majors after an absence that lasted more than a year, Collins said, “None of this would’ve happened without the help and cooperation of the Orioles, from the front office on down. Dan Duquette was very proactive. Everybody was great – Dr. Bill Goldiner and the medical staff, Richie Bancells, strength and conditioning people, the coaches, Brady Anderson. Brian was fortunate to have so many good people around him.”