masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNot that more examples are required to drive home the point that the Orioles’ rotation has been a mess, but Kevin Gausman’s 71 earned runs allowed ranked highest in the majors before last night, followed by Ubaldo Jiménez and the Giants’ Matt Moore with 68.
Gausman’s 20 starts were tied for first. It’s a large sample size.
Gausman brings a 6.39 ERA and 1.790 WHIP into tonight’s game against the Rangers. Since tossing seven scoreless innings against the Rays, he’s allowed a combined 13…

Not that more examples are required to drive home the point that the Orioles’ rotation has been a mess, but Kevin Gausman white back.pngKevin Gausman’s 71 earned runs allowed ranked highest in the majors before last night, followed by Ubaldo Jiménez and the Giants’ Matt Moore with 68.

Gausman’s 20 starts were tied for first. It’s a large sample size.

Gausman brings a 6.39 ERA and 1.790 WHIP into tonight’s game against the Rangers. Since tossing seven scoreless innings against the Rays, he’s allowed a combined 13 earned runs (14 total) and 16 hits over seven innings in his last two starts. He’s walked one batter and struck out 12, if you’re mining for positive nuggets.

Coming out of the break, Gausman surrendered a season-high four home runs and tied his high with eight runs in only three innings against the Cubs.

Gausman is 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in five career games, including four starts, against the Rangers. The current group is batting .306 (19-for-62) against him.

Elvis Andrus is 5-for-12 and Rougned Odor is 3-for-9 with three doubles.

Rangers left-hander Martín Pérez has registered a 4.55 ERA and 1.642 WHIP this season in 17 starts. Right-handers are batting .312 and left-handers are hitting .321.

Pérez has made one career start at Camden Yards, allowing four runs (two earned) and six hits in six innings. Overall, he’s 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA and 1.297 WHIP in four starts against the Orioles spanning 24 2/3 innings.

Mark Trumbo is 5-for-12 with a double and two home runs. Chris Davis is 1-for-10 with a double and six strikeouts. Adam Jones is 2-for-12.

* Jones is 3-for-19 since moving up to the leadoff spot. Two of the hits came last night and the one originally was ruled an error on Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre.

* Shortstop Rubén Tejada registered his second three-hit game last night in his last five starts.

Tejada is 12-for-33 (.364) this month. He’s 8-for-17 in the last five games.

* Manager Buck Showalter praised Chris Tillman yesterday for the effort put into three work days between starts. Tillman responded Monday night with his finest outing, holding the Rangers to one run and two hits in six innings.

“He was diligent about his three sides,” Showalter said. “Those were very important to him, to work on some things and try to get a consistent delivery.”

Sidney Ponson also was diligent about his three sides, but they usually were a baked potato, mac and cheese and another potato.

But seriously …

* My take on yesterday’s Yahoo Sports report that the Rockies checked with the Orioles on the availability of Gausman and Dylan Bundy: The reply most likely was something along the lines of, “Um, hello, we also need pitching.”

Also, this would be a strange time to deal Gausman unless you’re really into selling low.

I’m not questioning whether the Rockies contacted executive vice president Dan Duquette. I’m just fairly certain that it was a short conversation.

Now, if the Rockies are willing to part with shortstop Brendan Rodgers, their top prospect, the Orioles certainly would hang on their every word. J.J. Hardy will become a free agent and there isn’t anyone in the organization who’s an obvious choice to replace him.

(Please don’t suggest Ryan Mountcastle. He’s playing at Single-A Frederick and, while his bat probably could help next season because it’s so advanced, he isn’t ready to handle shortstop in the majors and still could change positions.)

The Orioles have done their homework on Rodgers and his club, the Hartford Yard Goats, are playing Double-A Bowie. But the Rockies probably are more inclined to hold onto the third-overall pick in the 2015 draft who signed a $5.5 million bonus, is only 20, is ranked as the 10th-best prospect by MLB.com and batted .400/.419/.700 with 21 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 46 RBIs in 48 games at Single-A Lancaster before moving up to Hartford, where he hit four home runs in a span of five games this month.

* Should the Orioles consider shortstop Jurickson Profar, who’s spent most of the season at Triple-A Round Rock? Profar was a top Rangers prospect before two years of shoulder injuries altered his course. He’s stuck behind Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor, he’s only 24 and he’s under team control through 2020.

I’m guessing that agent Scott Boras would consider the Orioles a nice match for his client.

* Bowie left-hander Tanner Scott garners most of his attention because of a fastball that creeps into triple digits, but I’m more impressed by how he’s only surrendered two home runs in 182 1/3 innings over four minor league seasons.

One at Frederick last year and one at Bowie this summer.

* Single-A Delmarva’s pitching staff hasn’t issued a walk in 19 games this season, which is believed to be the highest total in the majors and minors. At least that’s what I’ve been told by multiple people.

I only got confirmation on the Delmarva part. Multiple people are assisting with the rest.

Australian lefty Alex Wells was the latest Monday night while blanking Rome on four hits over six innings.

* I asked Duquette during the break about the Orioles’ philosophy of trading away international signing bonus slots for minor leaguers. It seemed to work with left-hander Chris Lee, who came from the Astros in May 2015 for two slots and emerged as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects. Other deals, like getting Damien Magnifico from the Brewers in April for bonus slot No. 15, haven’t panned out. But they’ll keep trying.

“Well, that’s an ownership decision,” Duquette said. “We’ve been utilizing the international signing bonus slots to try to acquire players to help the club.”

That’s pretty much how I’ve tried to explain it over the years.

* As long as I’m reheating leftovers, I also asked Duquette about second baseman Jonathan Schoop’s selection to the All-Star Game.

“That’s real encouraging,” Duquette said. “I’m real happy for Jon. He’s a smart kid and he’s worked on all areas of his game to earn this All-Star bid, so we’re really proud that Jon’s representing the Orioles in the All-Star Game.

“He’s had a really good year. He’s had some good years, but he’s steadily improving. Great hands, great arm, dependability, good hitting, outstanding power. He’s putting all that together.”

* Anyone wondering about outfielder Aneury Tavarez, one of the Orioles’ Rule 5 selections who returned to the Red Sox toward the end of spring training?

Tavarez began last night batting a combined .284/.359/.438 with six doubles, three triples, five home runs and 18 RBIs in 47 games at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. He batted .377/.473/.475 in 18 games in the Eastern League.

Tavarez strung together six consecutive two-hit games before last night.

The Orioles kept outfielder Anthony Santander, who remains on the 60-day disabled list with a right forearm strain and will retain his Rule 5 status. They may have been more inclined to hold onto Tavarez if he had shown himself to be a trustworthy defensive outfielder, but he just wasn’t quite there.

They’re intrigued by Santander’s power, but never got to evaluate him in the field due to elbow soreness. The ability to put him on the disabled list made him the easier choice.