Dana Eveland basically pitched his way out of the Orioles roster during spring training and now he's getting another shot.

Eveland, who has been in Norfolk during the season and was 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA, will get a big start tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles acquired Eveland as part of a trade with the Dodgers during the offseason and Dan Duqette, the club's executive vice president of baseball operations, took a public relations hit for acquiring the journeyman.

This weekend's series is an important one. The Rays and O's are tied for the lead in the American League East at 20-12. The Orioles have lost three of four games and are reeling from an offensive beat down from the Rangers, the top hitting club in the American League. The Rays are not a great hitting club, but get on base with the best of them.

Eveland, a left-hander, is not going to blow anyone away with his stuff. But, for the first time this season, the Birds have uncertainty in the rotation thanks to injuries. If Eveland can deliver a solid performance Friday night, it might earn him another start.

Posted May 11, 2012