Starting Pitcher

Faced with making a bull rush at this year's wild-card berth or reshaping the clubhouse toward next season, the Orioles' leadership yesterday opted for both.During a two-hour meeting at the office of majority owner Peter Angelos, a ready consensus emerged within organization leadership to pursue a trade for an established starting pitcher in the days leading up to the July 31 waiver deadline. The pursuit could take the Orioles to the Montreal Expos for left-hander Carlos Perez or to the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks for Willie Blair.

After playing Saturday's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers -- and with both Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen starting -- the Orioles will likely need a starter to pitch in Wednesday's afternoon game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he's evaluating all of his options, which include bringing up a pitcher from the minor leagues to make a spot start or using someone out of the bullpen if they are rested. “Last night, it was just a matter of, 'OK, here's our options.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - As an assortment of major league general managers began checking into the Ritz-Carlton hotel yesterday for five days' worth of meetings and social functions, Orioles officials held their luggage, room keys and the same list of needs they began compiling back in Baltimore. They want a right-handed slugger for their outfield, a starting pitcher to head their rotation and a catcher who can be trusted behind the plate when Javy Lopez moves to first base or is given a rest.

This award surely won't earn the centerpiece on Dylan Bundy's mantel, but the Orioles' top pitching prospect has earned the MiLBY Award as the fans' choice for minor league starting pitcher of the year in all of baseball. Miami Marlins prospect Jose Fernandez earned the vote of the writers at MiLB.com in results announced Tuesday . Bundy -- who pitched the first 33 innings of his career without allowing an earned run and quickly made his way up to Bowie, and then Baltimore -- earned 20 percent of the fans' votes to beat out Fernandez and 10 other nominees.

Do you enjoy the National League style of play? I always did. Managing in the minor leagues in the [Chicago] Cubs system, we didn't have the DH and it kind of gets everybody involved. It also reminds your starting pitcher that he has to stay away from the big inning, because, if he doesn't, he won't be around very long. And if your starting pitcher can't bunt, he usually gets pinch hit for earlier than needed.

GAME FACTS* Gates open: Noon today* Batting practice: Orioles, 12:30 p.m.; Brewers, 1:30 p.m.* Pre-game ceremonies: 2:38 p.m.* Ceremonial first pitch: Orioles announcer Chuck Thompson* First pitch: 3:05 p.m.* National anthem: Denyce Graves, Washington Opera Company* Tickets: Sold out* Weather: Partly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph diminishing in the afternoon.* TV: Channel 13, 2 p.m.* Radio: WBAL (1090 AM)PROJECTED LINEUPSBALTIMORE ORIOLESBrady Anderson, LFManny Alexander, 2BRafael Palmeiro, 1BCal Ripken, SSHarold Baines, DHChris Hoiles, CAndy Van Slyke, CFLeo Gomez, 3BJeffrey Hammonds, RF0$ * Starting pitcher: Mike MussinaMILWAUKEE BREWERSPat Listach, 2BDarryl Hamilton, CFKevin Seitzer, 3BGreg Vaughn, DHDerrick May, LFJohn Jaha, 1BTurner Ward, RFJoe Oliver, CJose Valentin, SS3# Starting pitcher: Ricky Bones *

It's a fact The Astros have had 13 sell outs this season, six of them when Roger Clemens has been the starting pitcher. Milestone Jason Kendall of the Pirates, in his ninth major league sea son, hit his first grand slam, his 66th home run. The number 38: Consecutive series the Di amondbacks have gone with out a sweep, longest active streak in the majors.

Quote: "We had been playing like the `Bad News Bears' for a while, so this type of win is big for us." - Yankees' Derek Jeter It's a fact: The Angels have used 15 different starters this season. Who's hot: The Indians are 11-3-1 in their past 15 series. Who's not: The Mariners' Alex Rodriguez is 1-for-12 in the series with the Athletics. On deck: Even though they don't know who their opponent will be, the White Sox have announced their starting pitcher for the first game of the playoffs - Mike Sirotka.

Up Carlos Beltran, outfielder, Mets -- He hit 16 homers last year and already has 18 in 2006. In his past five games, Beltran hit .481 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and four stolen bases. Victor Martinez, catcher, Indians -- He struggled in May, batting .165 without a home run, but Martinez has bounced back in June. He is hitting .385 with five homers and 14 RBIs this month. In his past six games, he hit .417 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. Felix Hernandez, starting pitcher, Mariners --Seattle's 20-year-old right-hander has won three straight outings after starting the season 3-6. Hernandez struck out nine and recorded the first complete game of his career against the Angels in his last start.

Johnny Isom went 3-for-5 and Bryan Bogle added a two-run homer yesterday as the visiting Bowie Baysox beat the Akron Aeros, 6-3, in a Double-A Eastern League game.Bowie starting pitcher Alvie Shepherd (5-1) went five innings, and Matt Snyder pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn his 10th save.Alley Cats 7, Shorebirds 4: Visiting Charleston (W.Va.) raced to a 7-0 lead, then held off Delmarva to win a Single-A South Atlantic League game.Avalanche 3, Keys 1: Salem (Va.) got to starting pitcher Jason Rogers for three runs in three innings and held on for a Single-A Carolina League win.Jim Foster went 2-for-3 for the Keys (37-25)

There's still a lot of baseball to be played before the Orioles have need to make a decision on their starting pitcher for Saturday's game in Atlanta. The Orioles have had four off days since May 24, meaning they've needed a fifth starter just once -- Tommy Hunter was called up to pitch Saturday -- in that span. They'll need to pick a fifth starter again for Saturday's game against the Braves.  It depends a lot on how much the club's bullpen is taxed in the days leading up to Saturday.

Orioles right-hander Jeremy Guthrie once again received no run support while he was on the mound Saturday afternoon. This time, the offense's striking inability to take advantage of scoring opportunities even made a little franchise history, yet it hardly mattered in an 8-2 bashing by the Tampa Bay Rays. Because Guthrie turned in his worst outing of the young season, giving up a pair of three-run homers and a total of seven, two-out runs in five innings, increasing his ERA from 3.00 to 4.09.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter made it clear in his pre-game comments Thursday that his focus was on the Minnesota Twins, not the challenges that his club has ahead of it over the next seven days. But with the first-place New York Yankees coming to town followed by the Boston Red Sox, and the short-handed Twins leaving, the 3-1 loss in front of an announced 16,769 at Camden Yards screamed of a missed opportunity for the Orioles to set themselves up for a decent homestand. The Twins, depleted by injuries and illness, got seven shutout innings from Orioles nemesis Scott Baker and walked out of Camden Yards with a split of the series despite not having Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Tsuyoshi Nishioka for any of the four games and Delmon Young for just one. Thursday night, all they needed were a couple of swings from Jim Thome and a dominant Baker, who out-dueled an effective Jeremy Guthrie to improve to 6-0 with a 2.17 ERA in eight career starts against the Orioles.

The Orioles took a huge step Monday toward setting their 25-man roster for Friday's season opener, making moves with eight players, including sending outfielder Nolan Reimold to the minors and potentially severing ties with veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson. But just when things looked to be flatlining in a tumultuous spring, the Orioles were thrown another curve as No. 2 starter Brian Matusz was struck in the left biceps by a liner during a simulated game Monday afternoon. "It was in the second inning.

The Orioles have agreed to terms with four of their six arbitration-eligible players, but the two who remain turned in perhaps the club's best performances in 2010. Designated hitter Luke Scott, who was last year's Most Valuable Oriole, and right-handed starter Jeremy Guthrie, who led the rotation in wins, ERA and innings pitched, filed salary figures Tuesday afternoon, meaning they continue on the path toward an arbitration hearing. Scott, who made $4.05 million in 2010, is asking for $6.85 million while the Orioles countered with $5.7 million.

— Jake Arrieta admitted after his last start on Tuesday that his body felt heavy, his legs felt weak and he didn't feel like himself physically. But as the young starter nears a professional high in innings pitched, Arrieta said he is more than ready physically to take the ball every five days for the rest of the season. "The last start was just one of those days where you get out of bed and you feel a little sluggish," said Arrieta who allowed five earned runs in six innings, but beat the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

Trading places Here's a thumbnail look at what contending teams might be looking for in the days leading up to the July 31 deadline for making trades without passing players through waivers: AL East New York Yankees: Run-producing first baseman or designated hitter. Would pursue Jason Giambi heavily if available. Also believed to be interested in Tampa Bay homebody Fred McGriff. Boston Red Sox: Big-name starting pitcher. Al Leiter would be a nice fit. Reliever Ugueth Urbina may be in the mix. AL Central Cleveland Indians: Hungry for go-to starting pitcher.

The possible return of Pete Harnisch is the latest rumor to surface concerning the Orioles' search for a starting pitcher. General manager Roland Hemond wouldn't confirm or deny that Harnisch's name had been mentioned in trade talks."

When Aaron Hill's fourth-inning drive slammed off the camera well over the center-field wall for a two-run homer, Orioles starter Brad Bergesen pounded his fist into his glove before stepping back onto the Rogers Centre mound and getting a new ball. He had to repeat that act in the fifth inning when Jose Bautista deposited a pitch just below the second deck in left-center field for a three-run homer, and again two batters later when Adam Lind's line drive just got over the right-field wall for a solo shot.