masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSteve Pearce gets the start as the Orioles’ designated hitter tonight, just as manager Buck Showalter alluded to following last night’s game.

Pearce is 0-for-13 this season after hitting .340/.377/.851 with three doubles, seven homers and 18 RBIs in 26 exhibition games. He’s 1-for-5 with an RBI against Tampa Bay left-hander David Price, who starts tonight.

This isn’t the first ace that Pearce has been dealt since the Orioles broke camp.

“It’s the job description. It’s tough. That’s…Steve Pearce gets the start as the Orioles’ designated hitter tonight, just as manager Buck Showalter alluded to following last night’s game.

Pearce is 0-for-13 this season after hitting .340/.377/.851 with three doubles, seven homers and 18 RBIs in 26 exhibition games. He’s 1-for-5 with an RBI against Tampa Bay left-hander David Price, who starts tonight.

This isn’t the first ace that Pearce has been dealt since the Orioles broke camp.

“It’s the job description. It’s tough. That’s why not just anybody can do it,” said manager Buck Showalter.

“He and (Ryan) Flaherty and Nolan (Reimold), these guys had really good springs and earned their spot. And knowing what the job description was and what it entailed, that’s who you’re going to see. We’ve got another left-hander (Hyun Jin-Ryu) tomorrow. We’ll see.

“Stevie knows what’s going on. We’re trying to figure out a way to contribute against Price and (CC) Sabathia and whoever. It’s hard to do. But he’s capable. He’s done it in the past.”

Down on the farm, first baseman/outfielder Conor Jackson remains on Triple-A Norfolk’s restricted list. An Orioles official said it’s possible that Jackson will stay on the list for the rest of the season.

Jackson, 30, indicated over the weekend that he was going to retire, but he may be having second thoughts because there’s a waiting period if he changes his mind. He remains in the Orioles organization if he decides to resume his career.

Jackson obviously wants to play in the majors and probably tired of minor league life after spending all of 2012 at Triple-A Charlotte.

For now, he’s on Norfolk’s restricted list, just like pitcher Dontrelle Willis last year before the left-hander announced his retirement in July. Willis signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in January, was released two months later and signed with the independent Long Island Ducks.

I doubt that Jackson will be playing in the Atlantic League.