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Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (pictured) was on his way to his second strong performance in a row when he grabbed at his side and exited Sunday's game with a right oblique strain. That's very bad news for a team that already has called on four Triple-A starters to fill in the fifth slot in the rotation and replace injured Miguel Gonzalez. It was a tough week already, after so-so outings by Jason Hammel, Freddy Garcia and Steve Johnson, and that was reflected in the combined numbers. The rotation posted a 2-2 record with a 6.03 ERA and averaged just five innings per start. Even though the team managed to go 4-2 in those games, this is starting to get scary.
Grade: D (Hannah Foslien / Getty Images /May 12, 2013)
Showalter said he’d like for Wada to throw at least 90 pitches twice. He could then be ready to return to the Orioles. Whether he comes back as a starter or reliever, Showalter said, depends on how Wada is throwing and how the big-league rotation has fared.
Ronny Paulino is the Orioles’ DH today, meaning the club does not have a true backup catcher. Showalter joked that he has one – but he’s not telling anyone, including the player.
The presence of Paulino and Nick Johnson in Saturday’s game has to do with their splits against lefties as well as Showalter’s interest in getting as many of his hitters into early-season games as possible.
Twins’ Sunday starter Liam Hendriks has been scratched with food poisoning. He has been hospitalized and is expected to be released on Sunday morning. Right-haner Anthony Swarzak will start against the Orioles on Sunday.
Here are the lineups for Saturday:
Twins: Span 8, Carroll 6, Mauer 2, Morneau DH, Willingham 7, Parmalee 3, Valencia 5, Revere 9, Casilla 4. Liriano P.
Orioles: Remold 7, Hardy 6, Markakis 9, Jones 8, Wieters 2, Reynolds 5, Johnson 3, Paulino DH, Andino 4, Hunter P.
