masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter two starts when he has not been at his best, new Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez hopes to show the home fans his stuff today when he pitches against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

“I haven’t been able to be there for the team the first two games,” Jimenez said Saturday. “But I look forward to doing that (today). As I get out on the mound I feel more comfortable. I want to put everything together. My last game I was able to have a good fastball, but I didn’t have my breaking…After two starts when he has not been at his best, new Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez hopes to show the home fans his stuff today when he pitches against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

“I haven’t been able to be there for the team the first two games,” Jimenez said Saturday. “But I look forward to doing that (today). As I get out on the mound I feel more comfortable. I want to put everything together. My last game I was able to have a good fastball, but I didn’t have my breaking balls.”

Jimenez has taken losses against the Red Sox and Yankees and is 0-2 with an ERA of 6.75. Last season he had an ERA of 10.06 after four starts, and he went 1-2 with an ERA of 7.13 in five April starts.

“In my career it has been that way at times,” he said. “The first month it takes me a little bit to put everything together. But no excuses on anything.”

Jimenez was signed to a four-year contract worth $50 million in February. After his rough April last year, he then allowed two runs or less in 21 of his last 28 starts, going 13-7 with a 2.61 ERA. He pitched to an ERA of 1.09 in six starts last September and had a big second half.

MLB leaders in ERA, second half of 2013 (minimun 80 IP):
1.59 – Clayton Kershaw, L.A. Dodgers
1.82 – Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland
1.85 – Zack Greinke, L.A. Dodgers

He said he has not put any undue pressure on himself to try to impress his new fans or teammates.

“You know I put enough pressure on myself to be there for the team,” Jimenez said. “I know I haven’t been there the first two games, but I put enough pressure on myself already.”

Jimenez has pitched 10 2/3 innings allowing 13 hits and eight runs with eight walks and 10 strikeouts. While left-handed batters are hitting just .240 off him, right-handed hitters are batting .412 at 7-for-17 with a home run.

“My fastball felt good (in my second start) but I couldn’t put away hitters with breaking balls,” Jimenez said. “I got ahead at times, but could not put hitters away. Right now my slider is good. My split. That is what I’ve been working on.

“In the first game, I wasn’t able to let the fastball go like I did in the second game. It’s like my arm is getting the strength all the way.”

One thing we are finding out about Jimenez, he smiles a lot, has an easy-going personality and is really enjoying being an Oriole.

“It’s been great,” Jimenez said. “This is a great clubhouse with great guys that pull for each other every day. As a player you want to be in a clubhouse like this one.”