By Zach Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

BALTIMORE, Aug. 18 -- The Baltimore Orioles know their starting pitchers Tuesday and Wednesday. Friday's starter remains TBA.

Two options are ruled out: the starter will not be Garrett Olson or Dennis Sarfate.

For Olson, it is a dramatic change after starting 21 games this season. For the Orioles, it is another rotation shake-up with a month and a half remaining in the season.

"I think I had to do something to be fair to the team and to be fair to Olson," Manager Dave Trembley said. "I mean Olson needs to get some success and to be put in a situation that is probably not as stressful or pressure packed as it would appear it's been for him these last three starts."

Olson has a 13.06 ERA in those three starts. He did not last through the third inning in two of them. Trembley said Olson's mechanics have not been an issue. Olson said it is a matter of confidence.

"I think it has been in the back of my mind lately that, 'Hey, I haven't been doing my job,' " he said. "I've been trying to make those adjustments. It's just being consistent has been hard this year. I've shown a brief glimpse of it, but I have to find it more."

Olson last pitched out of the bullpen in 2005. He said his preparation would not drastically change, although he needs to be ready to pitch on any given day, as opposed to every five games.

Olson is 8-6 this season. In seven of his 21 starts, he held opponents to two or fewer earned runs. But his recent struggles put the Orioles in a bind, and with a hot offense only able to do so much, Trembley shuffled the rotation.

Trembley said he will know by Wednesday who will start on Friday, but he did not have the answer before Monday's game against the Boston Red Sox.

The off-day rotation does not allow Trembley to maintain a consistent four-man rotation, likely preventing that option.

Trembley is optimistic that outfielder Adam Jones will return to baseball activity by the end of the week as he recovers from a fractured left foot. Trembley said right-handed pitcher Matt Albers is getting ready to throw off a pitching mound as he recovers from a shoulder injury.