Ramon Ortiz fared poorly in his second start of 2011 on Sunday, allowing six runs on seven hits in just four innings of a Cubs loss.

Through 10 innings of work, he is now the owner of a 7.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. Start number three could be a pipe dream for the 38-year-old righty.

Ramon Ortiz pitched well enough on Tuesday to earn another start this coming Sunday at the Pirates.

The pitcher once nicknamed "Little Pedro" has one sub-4.35 ERA season under his belt. It is highly unlikely that he will finally achieve his potential at age 38.

In his first start of the season Tuesday, Ramon Ortiz gave up three runs (two earned) over six innings in a loss to the Nationals.

All three runs scored in the first inning. Ortiz notched seven strikeouts in the loss, which is the most he's had in a start since June 12, 2006 as a member of the Nationals. The 38-year-old right-hander may get another start filling in for Carlos Zambrano (back) on Sunday, but he shouldn't be anywhere near your fantasy roster.

Cubs purchased the contract of RHP Ramon Ortiz from Triple-A Iowa.

Ortiz will take the mound on Tuesday night against the Nationals. He's posted a respectable 4.44 ERA and 79/20 K/BB ratio in 95 1/3 innings this season for Iowa but should probably be avoided in fantasy leagues.

Ramon Ortiz is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take Carlos Zambrano's (back) spot in the rotation next Tuesday.

Ortiz has done a decent job while at Iowa, posting a 4.44 ERA and 79/20 K/BB ratio over 95 1/3 frames. Now 38, he'll be making his first start in the majors since May of last season when he was with the Dodgers.

Cubs signed RHP Ramon Ortiz to a minor league contract.

Ortiz, 37, posted a 6.30 ERA over 30 innings for the Dodgers last season. He hasn't had any level of success at the major league level since 2004, but the Cubs were looking for some pitching depth with both Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells on the DL. Ortiz will start for Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

Mets signed RHP Ramon Ortiz to a minor league contract.

Ortiz was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last month after posting a 6.30 ERA and 1.63 ERA over his first 16 appearances (two starts). He hasn't been even a decent pitcher since the early part of the 2000s as a member of the Angels, so we doubt he'll be anything more than organizational depth.

Dodgers designated RHP Ramon Ortiz for assignment.

It's amazing he stuck around this long. Ortiz posted a 6.30 ERA and 1.63 WHIP over 16 appearances with the club, including a 9.82 ERA over two starts. It's unlikely he'll get another chance on the major league level.

Manager Joe Torre will take advantage of an off day on Monday to move his team to a four-man rotation, skipping Ramon Ortiz.

They don't need a fifth starter until the end of next week and Ortiz hasn't exactly been pitching well lately. In his two starts, the 36-year-old has yet to make it out of the fifth inning and has allowed eight runs on 12 hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. Even when the Dodgers need a fifth starter again, they may decide to look elsewhere, as Ortiz just isn't going to cut it.

Ramon Ortiz was charged with five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings Wednesday in a loss to the Padres.

Ortiz has been a bust in his two starts, so he might soon find himself back in middle relief. Another possibility is that the Dodgers will just go ahead and designate him for assignment. He had a 5.16 ERA in 22 2/3 innings before being shifted into the rotation, so it's not like he was helping as a reliever.

Ramon Ortiz was told that he will start against the Padres on Friday.

Like it or not, it's official. "I'm very happy when they told me," said Ortiz, who will make his first start since 2007 as a member of the Twins. "It surprised me. It's been a long time, almost two years. I'm a very positive guy. I knew I could do this, being back in the big leagues. I never think about retiring or anything. My arm is good. If I throw 90 [mph], I'm OK, I'll keep going. When I can throw only 85, I'll go home." The 37-year-old right-hander has a 5.24 ERA over 13 relief appearances this season.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he plans to start Ramon Ortiz against the Padres on Friday.

With a scheduled off-day on Thursday, Torre has the option of skipping a fifth starter completely, but he'll use the opportunity to give Clayton Kerhsaw and Chad Billingsley extra rest. It could be a long day for the Dodgers bullpen.

Ramon Ortiz is the likeliest candidate to start on Tuesday for the Dodgers, according to MLB.com.

Carlos Monasterios is an option, but Ortiz is able to offer the Dodgers more pitches. John Ely, currently at Triple-A Albuquerque, is another candidate, although the Dodgers would have to place a pitcher on the disabled list because he was sent to the minors within the last ten days. That injury possibility could be Charlie Haeger, who has a problem in his right heel. "I haven't talked to Charlie today, but I talked to [head trainer] Stan Conte and he's been getting work on a heel," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "We'll visit that and see what we get going there."