Orioles on deck: What to watch Thursday vs. Tigers

Orioles (20-12) vs. Detroit Tigers (15-18)

Where: Camden Yards

First pitch: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MASN/105.7 The Fan

Starting pitchers: Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-3, 4.54 ERA) vs. Tigers RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-4, 6.23 ERA)

What to watch

1. The Scherzer effect. One night after being the victims of Max Scherzer's major league-record-tying 20-strikeout performance, it will be worth watching how the Tigers respond offensively. Will it change their approaches? Will the Tigers be more eager earlier in at-bats after striking out so many times Wednesday?

2. Middle men. The middle of the Orioles' batting order had an astonishing performance against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo combined to go 10-for-15 with four homers, seven runs scored and nine RBIs. Can that trio remain as potent against the Tigers?

3. Ubaldo or Ubaldo-no. Ubaldo Jimenez is coming off his best start of the season, and one of the Orioles' best in 2016: two earned runs and six strikeouts in eight innings Saturday against the Oakland Athletics. He also has been slightly erratic, for example giving up six runs in 4 2/3 innings his previous start. Which Ubaldo will show up tonight against the Tigers?

Orioles lineup

LF Joey Rickard
SS Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
RF Mark Trumbo
DH Pedro Alvarez
2B Jonathan Schoop
3B Ryan Flaherty
C Caleb Joseph