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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)
Mark Reynolds, who took a pitch to the outside of his left hand in Thursday night's 9-7 loss to the Angels, is back in the starting lineup today batting sixth and starting at first base.
After Thursday's game, Reynolds' hand had a huge wrap on it and his thumb was visibly swollen.
However, Chris Davis, who was scratched from Thursday's lineup before the game, will also miss tonight's game with what was diagnosed as a right trapezius strain. Steve Pearce is in right field tonight batting seventh.
Also, second baseman Robert Andino, who is 5-for-11 over the past three games, will lead off tonight, moving left fielder Xavier Avery to ninth.
Here are the starting lineups:
Orioles
Robert Andino 2B
J.J. Hardy SS
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
Wilson Betemit 3B
Mark Reynolds 1B
Steve Pearce RF
Ronny Paulino DH
Xavier Avery LF
Miguel Gonzalez RHP
Angels
Mike Trout CF
Torii Hunter RF
Albert Pujols 1B
Kendrys Morales DH
Mark Trumbo LF
Alberto Callaspo 3B
Howard Kendrick 2B
Erick Aybar SS
John Hester C
C.J. Wilson LHP
