(Best E Casino) - Without Erik Bedard, many thought that pitching would be a problem for the Baltimore Orioles this season. The team shuffles its rotation tonight in the opener of a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome.

Baltimore's team earned run average of 4.16 ranks eighth in the American League, while its starters have posted a 4.67 ERA thus far. That ranks eighth in the league as well.

Tonight marks Steve Trachsel's turn in the rotation, but the right-hander was used for five innings in relief on Sunday after having his start in the rotation skipped over due to his 2-5 record and now 8.15 ERA.

Instead, the Orioles while shift the ineffective Trachsel to the bullpen for now while giving a start to prospect Radhames Liz tonight. Liz, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, went 0-2 with a 6.93 ERA in nine games (4 starts) last year with Baltimore.

The right-hander, who turns 25 next Saturday, was 1-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 11 starts with Norfolk this year. He did make a start against the Twins last year, getting tagged for five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings in his major league debut.

Though they could probably use Bedard right about now, the Orioles are at least getting an immediate return on the deal that sent the lefty out of town to Seattle. Adam Jones and George Sherrill were two of the five players the O's acquired in the Bedard deal, and both factored into Monday's win over Boston that ended a four-game losing streak.

Trailing by one, the Orioles' Kevin Millar lifted a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth to even things at 3-3. Baltimore later reloaded the bases before Jones stroked a bases-clearing double to left, pushing the Orioles to a 6-3 victory that saw Sherrill post his 18th save of the season.

Baltimore begins a nine-game road trip tonight and has lost its last five as the visitor. The Orioles have also lost their last nine matchups with the Twins, including defeats in all seven meetings last year.

The Orioles haven't won a game in Minnesota since June 10, 2006.

Baltimore gets its first-ever look tonight at Minnesota's Kevin Slowey, who is coming off his first career complete game. Slowey went the distance on Thursday versus the Royals, yielding just one run on six hits without a walk and six strikeouts.

The right-hander, who has made his last three starts on the road, won his second straight outing while improving to 2-4 on the season with a 3.38 ERA.

Minnesota won the last two of its four-game series with the New York Yankees and earned a split of the set after Monday's 6-5 win. Delmon Young came through with a trio of RBI doubles in the game, including the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth frame.

Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored for the Twins, who have won six of eight overall. Joe Mauer went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his first long ball of the season. That helped push the Twins to just a half-game back of the Chicago White Sox for first place in AL Central.