Brian Matusz

SARASOTA, Fla. - Although the Orioles aren't making any proclamations about their rotation with Opening Day looming in less than two weeks, Zach Britton's chances of going north with the club seemingly took a hit Wednesday as he failed to get out of the second inning in a Grapefruit League start against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 25-year-old lefty allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks while retiring only four batters, pushing his spring ERA to 6.10 and likely damaging his standing in a battle with Jake Arrieta , Steve Johnson , Brian Matusz and others for the fifth rotation spot.

One of the main competitions - really, one of the only competitions - in Orioles spring training this year is for the fifth starter's role. A whole lot of names have been thrown into the mix: Jake Arrieta, Zach Britton, Steve Johnson, Brian Matusz, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hunter and T.J. McFarland. Hunter, in particular (and Matusz, potentially) is earmarked for the bullpen. McFarland, a Rule 5 pick, may have to be offered back to the Cleveland Indians because he doesn't look like he'll make the rotation.

The Orioles have a day game at Fort Myers, Fla., today against the Boston Red Sox. Brian Matusz will start today in another important outing in the rotation's fifth-spot competition. Chris Tillman , who is dealing with a sore abdomen, also will pitch. He'll be in a minor league game at Twin Lakes. He expects to pitch three innings. Brian Roberts is making his first road trip. That's significant to the media maybe. But not to Roberts, who is coming back from a variety of injuries but has been healthy all spring.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Despite a rocky start, Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz continued to make a case for himself to be the team's No. 5 starter in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park Matusz allowed just one run on six hits through five innings, walking one and striking out two. His five-inning start is the longest of any Orioles pitcher this spring. Matusz threw 75 pitches, 58 strikes. Over his past two starts, Matusz has allowed just one run over nine innings with six hits, nine strikeouts and two walks.

Steve Johnson, as is his nature, isn't going away quietly in the fight for the fifth spot in the rotation. Johnson, who has earned a reputation as a never-give-up battler, threw four scoreless innings to lead the Orioles to a victory over the Minnesota Twins, 7-1, Sunday at Ed Smith Stadium. Johnson gave up three hits, one walk and hit a batter, but always made the pitch to get out of trouble. He threw 67 pitches, 40 of them for strikes. "I was behind a lot of hitters, but I battled back.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Matusz's roller-coaster season had landed him in Triple-A Norfolk last August, and he was walking along the city's harbor in the shadows of majestic naval battleships with his father, Mike. Days earlier, the Orioles left-hander was told that the organization was moving to the bullpen. He initially saw it as another demotion, and two relief appearances in, the results were unspectacular. He called home to Arizona and asked his father to visit him in Virginia.

Brian Matusz threw his ballcap into the ring for the open fifth starter spot Wednesday with a dominant outing: four innings pitched, no hits, one walk, seven strikeouts and no flyball outs. Granted it was the Minnesota Twins without Joe Mauer (World Baseball Classic) and Trevor Plouffe (strained calf). But Matusz was very impressive. The question, though, is this: 'Is he really in the rotation competition?' Orioles manager Buck Showalter says yes. He says Tommy Hunter, who threw two perfect innings Wednesday, also is in that competition.

Over the past few years, Buck Showalter has become pretty consistent when it comes to his valuations of starting pitchers during his postgame news conferences.   If a pitcher throws well, Showalter will note it - but he'll also pick out a negative or heap praise on someone else. He's just not going to gush over a performance, especially one in spring training. Brian Matusz 's outing Wednesday night in the Orioles' 9-4 win over the Minnesota Twins was gushable - he allowed no hits, one walk and struck out seven batters in four innings.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While the consensus is that Brian Matusz will make the Orioles' 25-man roster and pitch in the bullpen like he did superbly at the end of last season, the 26-year-old lefty has said repeatedly that he is approaching this spring as if he is going to once again pitch in the rotation. Matusz let his pitches make his case in his first start of the spring Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins, Dominant from the beginning in the Orioles' 9-4 Grapefruit League victory, Matusz struck out six of the first seven batters he faced.

Orioles' lefty Wei-Yin Chen threw 51 pitches (33 strikes) Friday in an exhibition start against the Pittsburgh Pirates that lasted 2 1/3 innings. His fastball sat between 89 and 91 mph and with the exception of his command - especially his slider - he looked pretty solid for this time of year. Toward the end of his interview with the local media, Chen said, “I feel it is going to be a good year for me.” The sophomore campaign often is the roughest for pitchers, but Chen, who will be 28 in July, wasn't a normal rookie last year and he won't be a normal sophomore this season.