masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Alex Cobb returns to the Orioles spring rotation Saturday afternoon with his start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.
Cobb hasn’t pitched beyond a simulated game since March 5 against the Pirates, when he allowed one run and two hits over three innings. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his debut against the Rays on March 1, charged with four runs and three hits.
The birth of Cobb’s daughter on Friday night has forced adjustments to his schedule. He worked four innings…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Alex Cobb returns to the Orioles spring rotation Saturday afternoon with his start against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

Cobb hasn’t pitched beyond a simulated game since March 5 against the Pirates, when he allowed one run and two hits over three innings. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning in his debut against the Rays on March 1, charged with four runs and three hits.

Cobb-slings-gray-vs-seattle-sidebar.jpgThe birth of Cobb’s daughter on Friday night has forced adjustments to his schedule. He worked four innings Sunday morning in a simulated game on Camden Yards South, with Chris Davis, Mark Trumbo and Trey Mancini taking turns batting against him.

Manager Brandon Hyde hasn’t named an opening day starter and no one is seizing the opportunity among the three pitchers assured of being in the rotation.

Cobb’s body of work is limited, with just 3 2/3 total innings under his belt. Dylan Bundy, who starts Thursday against the Twins in Sarasota, has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits 6 2/3 innings and lasted only 1 2/3 in his last outing Saturday against the Rays in Port Charlotte.

Andrew Cashner, today’s starter against the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium, had surrendered five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He also worked 1 2/3 innings in his most recent outing against Red Sox.

Cashner is lined up to work on normal rest March 28 at Yankee Stadium if he pitches every fifth day, but spring pitching schedules easily can be manipulated and the Orioles are off March 26-27. They also play split-squad games March 24.

Available pitchers Thursday behind Bundy include Jimmy Yacabonis, Pedro Araujo, Paul Fry and Branden Kline.

The Orioles’ .269 batting average, 42 doubles, 110 RBIs, 117 runs scored, 303 total bases and 22 steals rank first in the Grapefruit League. Their .812 OPS is second.

For the Blue Jays
Dalton Pompey RF
Bo Bichette DH
Billy McKinney LF
Danny Jansen C
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Cavan Biggio 2B
Jonathan Davis CF
Eric Sogard 3B
Richard Ureña SS

Marcus Stromen RHP