Showalter says Britton was available in wild-card game

Against the Toronto Blue Jays in Tuesday night's wild-card game, the Baltimore Orioles were expected to use Zach Britton again, and again, and again.

But he never came in, and Buck Showalter's reasoning after the game could've only been one of two options: he's hurt, or he chose not to pitch him. For Orioles fans, it was the more gut-wrenching of the two.

"He was available," Showalter told reporters. "Nobody has been pitching better for us than Ubaldo (Jimenez)."

A Cy Young Award candidate, Britton was the best pitcher available for either team in the biggest game of the season, based on his track record this year.

Instead, Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion hit a walk-off, three-run home run in the 11th inning off Jimenez to win the game 5-2 and seal a date with the Texas Rangers in the ALDS on Thursday.

Said Britton: "It was just frustrating to have to sit down there and watch and not be able to help the team."

As far as Showalter's concerned, he doesn't regret his decision not to use Britton, because he never felt as though he had a chance to do so.

"If you pitch Britton earlier, who do you pitch afterward?" Showalter told reporters. "I'd rather pitch those guys earlier."

This season, Britton had 47 saves, pitching to a 0.54 ERA over 67 innings of work, while giving up just one home run and striking out 74 batters. In 58 appearances since May 5, he had a ridiculous ERA of 0.16.