39 Jason Hammel, SP

Orioles starter Jason Hammel appeared to finally figure out his command issues at home Wednesday against the Yankees after back-to-back poor starts in which he gave up 13 runs over a span of 8 2/3 innings.

Hammel (6-2) allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out six, to get the win Wednesday. He threw 109 pitches and was removed with two outs in the seventh inning with the only Yankees' player to do anything against him coming up. Curtis Granderson was 3 for 3 with a homer for the Yankees with Hammel in the game, so manager Buck Showalter removed him just before Granderson's fourth at-bat.

Hammel, who's ERA is 5.37, will make his next scheduled start Monday at Washington.

Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel has posted a 10.43 ERA and .409 opponents' batting average in his last three starts after opening the year with a 3.79 ERA and .244 opponents' batting average in his first six starts.

"It's not mechanical at all," Hammel said, per MASNsports.com. "You try to mess with things that are pretty sound, you'll get yourself in even more trouble."

Hammel, who will be on the mound Wednesday against the Yankees, said in a recent side session he worked on his fastball command and keeping his pitches down in the strike zone to induce more groundball outs.

"This last (side session), all I did was throw fastballs, because that is what I've been struggling with, the fastball. Sometimes you have to go back to basics," he said. "It is not necessarily the (lack of) sink, but my pitches are up in the zone. Two-seamer has been good at times, but the misses overall with all pitches have just been too hittable up in the zone and badly executed. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with my pitches, but they've just been too hittable right now."

Orioles starter Jason Hammel endured another rough outing as he picked up his second loss of the season Friday night against the Rays.

Hammel (5-2), who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a three-run home run to Kelly Johnson in the third inning. The right-hander was charged with a season-high seven runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out four and walked two in a 12-10 defeat.

Hammel suffered his first loss since April 7. His ERA has increased from 4.10 to 5.72 after allowing 13 runs and 18 hits over his last two starts. The 30-year-old will make his next start Wednesday at home against the Yankees. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- over six innings in his previous meeting against the Yankees on April 13.

Orioles starter Jason Hammel will next start Friday against Tampa Bay, the Baltimore Sun reported Monday. Manager Buck Showalter wanted to keep his starters in line with Freddy Garcia starting Wednesday against the Padres and Baltimore off Thursday.

Hammel owns a better history against the Rays than he does the Padres. He's 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA over two career starts versus Tampa Bay, his former team. 

The Orioles haven't yet made a decision as of Sunday afternoon about who will start Wednesday against the Padres. The two options are Jason Hammel and Freddy Garcia.

Hammel is coming off his worst start of the season Friday, allowing six runs on eight hits in four innings at Minnesota. He has won five times in eight starts, but he also has a 4.93 ERA and has yet to pitch at least seven innings.