HOUSTON - The Orioles are listing Alec Asher as Sunday's starter against the Astros. Asher is closing out the series. Whether the Orioles remain open to giving Ubaldo Jiménez another opportunity is unknown at the present time. Asher is 1-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 1.069 WHIP in 29 innings in his 11 appearances this season. In his two starts, he's allowed four runs and nine hits in 12 1/3 innings, with two walks and nine strikeouts. Both outings have been quality starts. Though he was used out...

HOUSTON - The Orioles are listing Alec Asher as Sunday's starter against the Astros.

Asher is closing out the series. Whether the Orioles remain open to giving Ubaldo Jiménez another opportunity is unknown at the present time.

Asher is 1-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 1.069 WHIP in 29 innings in his 11 appearances this season. In his two starts, he's allowed four runs and nine hits in 12 1/3 innings, with two walks and nine strikeouts. Both outings have been quality starts.

Though he was used out of the bullpen Wednesday afternoon, Asher only threw 24 pitches in two scoreless innings and remained available for Sunday's assignment. He's listed among the relievers tonight.

Asher hasn't started since May 2 in Boston, when he allowed three runs in six innings in a 5-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Jiménez is 1-2 with a 7.17 ERA and 1.711 WHIP in nine games (eight starts) over 42 2/3 innings. He's surrendered 11 runs and 17 hits over nine innings in his last two starts and failed to record an out in the fifth Monday night against the Twins.

Jiménez could swap places with Asher and work out of the bullpen on Sunday. Manager Buck Showalter will clarify the situation when he meets with reporters around 5:20 p.m.

Jayson Aquino also was a candidate to start Sunday, but Showalter may prefer him as a second left-hander in the bullpen who can back up the right-handed starters, including Kevin Gausman tonight in the series opener.

Asher told a small group of reporters earlier today that he hadn't been told whether he was starting. Pitching coach Roger McDowell spoke to him in the clubhouse a short time later.

Asher has been valuable working in a variety of roles, including the later innings, but he's back in the rotation. For how long is another matter.

Left-hander Wade Miley is starting Saturday, receiving an extra day of rest following Thursday's off-day.