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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)
Right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom's minor league outing, his first game action since re-tweaking his hamstring, was quick and effective today.
Lindstrom pitched one inning, recording four outs against the Orioles' Triple-A team. He struck out two batters, including Orioles 40-man player Josh Bell. Lindstrom said he went through the first three hitters he faced quickly in about 9-10 pitches.
He said he felt his velocity was good and there was no pain in the hamstring, which is in his pushing-off leg. He threw all his pitches, including his split-fingered fastball and his slider.
"I think that was a good indication of being ready for the season," he said.
Lindstrom was told he was pitching in a minor league game about an hour before it began at 10 this morning.
"It was a good test," he said. "I didn't feel it pushing off or anything."
