Daniel

Cabrera

Not a serious problem. Cabrera had allowed five runs -- two earned -- in 11 2/3 innings over three starts.

Cabrera struck out the side in the first, but he started the second by yielding two singles, walking three straight batters and giving up a grand slam. Things didn’t get much better the rest of the way. The worse Cabrera finishes this year, the better of a value pick he’ll be next spring. He’s too talented not to turn into a very good starting pitcher someday. He’s just not ready yet.

The Orioles don’t lose anything by going to Eric DuBose. Some time off may do Cabrera some good.

''He’s scheduled to pitch Tuesday, but he’d probably be pushing it for that,’' Perlozzo said. ''It’s still a possibility.’' Eric DuBose would likely get another start if Cabrera can’t go.

Cabrera walked two in the first inning before Mike Lowell’s grand slam and five overall in the outing. Toronto is up next, so AL-only leaguers will want to keep him reserved.

Cabrera was winless in six starts before being sent down last month, so this is his first major league victory since June 10. He struck out seven and walked just one batter, his lowest total in 11 starts since April 28. His next start is expected to come at Fenway Park, so it isn’t yet time to activate him in AL-only leagues. Still, his performance tonight was promising.

The Baltimore Sun speculates that Cabrera, who has a 4.07 ERA in four Triple-A games, will start Tuesday. “I think he needs to get back here,” Perlozzo said. “It’s possible he will start in Toronto. We need to get our rotation back in order, and I think he’s part of the rotation. If he’s going to be part of our future, he needs to get back up here, start pitching for us and start straightening it out up here. It’s time for us to get this thing rolling and get him moving on.”

Cabrera, who will pitch tomorrow, was only truly impressive in his last of four starts for Ottawa. If a 4.07 ERA was all it took to get him back to the majors, we’re still not sure what the point was of sending him down in the first place. Surely, he was a better option than Russ Ortiz all along. Cabrera will get the Jays and Yankees in his first two starts back, so he shouldn’t be used in AL-only leagues right now.

Easily Cabrera’s best start since his demotion. He has a 4.07 ERA in four starts for Ottawa. It might be that he’ll rejoin Baltimore’s rotation next week.

Cabrera kept putting men on, and the Twins responded by bailing him out of several jams. Michael Cuddyer and Torii Hunter both hit into inning-ending double plays, and in Cabrera’s easiest innings, Justin Morneau was thrown out trying to take second on a single. Cabrera gets a road start in Pittsburgh next, so AL-only leaguers will want to keep him active. Mixed leaguers in need of strikeouts could consider him for a spot start.