FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Before Matt Albers could make his latest bid to win a spot in the Orioles' rotation, the team reduced the number of pitchers competing against him.
The Orioles optioned left-hander Garrett Olson to Triple-A Norfolk before their 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins yesterday, leaving Albers and Brian Burres as the primary candidates to head north.
Olson was 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA this spring, allowing one run and three hits in seven innings. He walked six and struck out four.
"No matter what kind of situation it is, when you hear it, you're kind of in shock. Then it settles in," Olson said. "They were honest about what I need to work on. I'm just going to go down there and keep working on being consistent and be ready to go."
Olson made seven starts for the Orioles last season, going 1-3 with a 7.79 ERA and walking 28 in 32 1/3 innings. He was 9-7 with a 3.16 ERA, 39 walks and 120 strikeouts in 22 starts at Norfolk.
"They think all my pitches are great," he said. "They think my fastball command is improved, but they think it could still be a little better. I have to work on the consistency of my delivery and continuing to spot my fastball a little better."
Albers, part of the Miguel Tejada trade with the Houston Astros, lasted 3 1/3 innings in his first start in four spring appearances. He allowed three runs and three hits, walked two and struck out four. Both walks came during a 22-pitch first inning that included only nine strikes.
Albers struck out two in the second inning, but Twins catcher Joe Mauer hit a two-run homer in the third.
"Overall, I wasn't that satisfied with the results," said Albers, who has a 5.40 ERA this spring. "My arm felt good. I was keeping the ball down pretty well for the most part. I threw quite a few curveballs and changeups. I just think I should establish my fastball a little earlier."
Said manager Dave Trembley: "He had movement on his fastball, but I don't think he really got into a rhythm from the get-go. He has sink on his fastball, and he has movement on his fastball, but I thought his selection of his pitches could have been better."
Trembley included Jon Leicester, who starts Friday against the New York Mets, and Jim Johnson as fifth-starter options, but they appear to be long shots compared with Albers and Burres, who allowed one run and three hits in three innings yesterday.
Moore hurting
Scott Moore must feel as if the next break he gets in camp probably will involve a bone. That's the way his luck has run.
Olson drilled Moore on the right elbow during yesterday morning's simulated game on one of the back fields, and the bruise was bad enough to keep him from playing against the Twins. Moore flung his bat in anger and returned later with his elbow wrapped in a bandage.
"I'll be fine. It's just a little swollen," said Moore, who missed almost two weeks with a lower abdominal strain. "I have to wait until the swelling goes down. It's a little frustrating, but it's part of the game."
Moore is batting .556 with a home run in 18 at-bats. He's trying to win a bench job, at least while Jay Gibbons serves a 15-day suspension to start the season, but the inactivity doesn't enhance his chances.
Around the horn
The Orioles reassigned pitcher Craig Anderson, Roberto Novoa and Ryan Bukvich to their minor league camp. ... . Rocky Cherry hasn't allowed a run in eight innings, though he surrendered two hits and walked a batter yesterday.
roch.kubatko@baltsun.com
Sun reporter Jeff Zrebiec contributed to this article.