Ubaldo Jimenez was included on the Orioles’ roster for the ALDS, but never actually pitched against the Tigers. And now he’s been dropped from the ALCS roster in favor of left-hander Brian Matusz.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which manager Buck Showalter would use Jimenez in a game that wasn’t completely lopsided and with off days there isn’t really much need for a bullpen-saving mop-up man in the playoffs.
Who knows if Showalter will find a use for Matusz, but there’s at least some chance he’ll call on the 27-year-old southpaw to face a left-handed hitter in a spot that matters. Matusz had a 3.48 ERA this season and a 3.53 ERA last season, with good secondary numbers to match, whereas Jimenez had a 4.81 ERA with 5.5 walks per nine innings in the first season of a $50 million contract.