masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAs I was rummaging through my mailbag again last night to make sure I didn’t miss anything, I found another question stuck to the bottom. It was pretty gross, but I managed to peel it open.
How long will the Orioles continue to keep Chris Tillman in the rotation?
Indefinitely.
Tillman is 5-0 with three no-decisions in his last eight starts. He shut out the Tigers last night on one hit over eight innings, retiring the final 23 batters that he faced. His ERA is down to 4.96, its lowest since his…

As I was rummaging through my mailbag again last night to make sure I didn’t miss anything, I found another question stuck to the bottom. It was pretty gross, but I managed to peel it open.

How long will the Orioles continue to keep Chris Tillman in the rotation?

Indefinitely.

Tillman is 5-0 with three no-decisions in his last eight starts. He shut out the Tigers last night on one hit over eight innings, retiring the final 23 batters that he faced. His ERA is down to 4.96, its lowest since his opening day start.

Take him out of the rotation? And do what? He’s out of options and the bullpen is full. He got off to a brutal start and was walking guys at a 2014 Ubaldo Jimenez rate, but he’s been much better and he’s going to keep getting the ball every five days.

The reduction in walks can’t be underplayed. Tillman has issued three free passes over his last five starts.

machado-gray-swing-sidebar.jpgOh, and the shutdown inning following Manny Machado’s home run was pretty big, too. MASN’s Tom Davis pointed out yesterday on “Wall to Wall Baseball” that Tillman gave up at least one run 25 times this season immediately after the Orioles scored.

I understand the counter argument that surrendering runs two or three innings later can be just as devastating, but I say it’s got to be a kick in the gut when it keeps happening right away, especially for an offense that developed an allergic reaction to batting with runners in scoring position.

Anyway, Tillman kept shutting down the Tigers until passing the baton to Zach Britton, who converted his 20th save opportunity in a row.

The Orioles were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position last night, with Caleb Joseph delivering a two-run single in the ninth inning on a sinking liner that eluded Anthony Gose. They were 2-for-50 and 8-for-95 going into the game.

Last night marked the 44th game in club history that the Orioles surrendered one hit or fewer and the first since Tillman and – wait for it – Troy Patton combined on a one-hitter in a 9-1 victory over the Red Sox on Sept. 28, 2012 at Camden Yards.

This was the first time that the Orioles held a team to one hit in a shutout win since June 16, 2012, when Jason Hammel went the distance in a 5-0 victory over the Braves.

The Orioles have limited the Tigers to one hit or fewer in four games in series history, most recently before last night on Sept. 18, 1988 at Tiger Stadium. It also happened on May 6, 1968 at Memorial Stadium, a one-hitter, and April 30, 1967 at Memorial Stadium, a no-hitter in a 2-1 loss in the first game of a doubleheader.

Machado doubled and hit his 20th homer last night to leave his average at .302. Move him down in the order? I’m still not fixing what ain’t broke. Leave him alone and let him flourish.

That question also may be stuck at the bottom of my mailbag, but I’d rather not reach down there again.

The Orioles are four games behind the Yankees in the American League East and they’re sending Miguel Gonzalez to the mound today as they try to win the series. He’s allowed six runs in two of his last three starts.

Gonzalez is 0-2 with an 8.47 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Tigers. He allowed seven runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in his only start at Comerica Park on April 4, 2014. He gave up two home runs and hit two batters.

Rajai Davis is 4-for-12 with three home runs and six RBIs against Gonzalez. Yoenis Cespedes is 4-for-8 and Gose is 5-for-15 with a double, triple and home run.

Justin Verlander is making his sixth start of the season after recovering from a triceps injury. He’s 9-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 15 career outings against the Orioles.

The current Orioles are batting .216 against Verlander. Travis Snider is 5-for-14 with two doubles, a triple and a home run, Chris Parmelee is 5-for-16 with a home run, Matt Wieters is 3-for-22 with a double, triple and home run, Adam Jones is 7-for-36 with a double, home run and 10 strikeouts, Chris Davis is 5-for-23 with 10 strikeouts, Machado is 2-for-11 with a double and J.J. Hardy is 9-for-36 with a double and three home runs.