masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBrian Matusz was skipped in the rotation tonight, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters in St. Petersburg that the left-hander will start Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

So much for a long wait.

Alfredo Simon is taking the mound tonight. Hopefully, he’ll still be there when MASN2 begins to air the game at 7:06 p.m.

It’s a Fox window issue, and I don’t mean Jake. But anyway …

Matusz is 1-7 with a 9.07 ERA this season. He’s 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA in six career starts against New…Brian Matusz was skipped in the rotation tonight, but manager Buck Showalter told reporters in St. Petersburg that the left-hander will start Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

So much for a long wait.

Alfredo Simon is taking the mound tonight. Hopefully, he’ll still be there when MASN2 begins to air the game at 7:06 p.m.

It’s a Fox window issue, and I don’t mean Jake. But anyway …

Matusz is 1-7 with a 9.07 ERA this season. He’s 2-4 with a 3.65 ERA in six career starts against New York.

The rotation, always in upheaval, is being adjusted again because Jo-Jo Reyes left the team for the birth of his baby. It’s not known when the left-hander will make his next start.

Also, first baseman Chris Davis, on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, will report to Double-A Bowie and play in injury-rehab games tomorrow and Monday. Davis will play first base tomorrow and third base on Monday.

Once he’s activated, I’d stick him at third for a while and see how he responds – and how his shoulder responds.

Update: The Orioles took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning tonight. J.J. Hardy singled and Nick Markakis hit his 14th home run.

That’s all it took.

Yes, Markakis occasionally flashes a little power.

Update II: Alfredo Simon retired the first two batters in the bottom of the first, but a ground-rule double, walk and B.J. Upton’s two-run double tied the game.

Mark Reynolds struck out in the top of the second, in case you were wondering.

Update III: Evan Longoria walked with two outs in the third and Matt Joyce doubled to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead. Once again, damage is done with two outs.

Update IV: B.J. Upton’s two-out – of course – three-run double increased the Rays’ lead to 6-2 in the fifth, before Matt Wieters delivered an RBI in the top of the sixth.

Simon allowed six runs and seven hits, with four walks, in five innings.