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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)
Orioles manager Buck Showalter pressed that there's no timetable for struggling starters Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta to return from Triple-A, insisting that their route back to Baltimore will hinge not only on performance but also need.
Before Thursday's afternoon game against the Rays, Showalter was asked what Matusz, who allowed just one run and three hits over eight innings on Wednesday night, would have to do in order to return to the Orioles starting rotation.
Showalter's answer? With the Orioles making seven quality starts in their last eight games, the pitchers aren't necessarily needed right now. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who has three quality starts in four major league starts, will have the opportunity to rebound from Wednesday night's rocky effort (7 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, 3 hit batters, 2 home runs in 2 2/3 innings). And right-hander Chris Tillman, who is pitching today, has thrown two quality starts in three outings and has a 1.15 ERA.
"I think it’s more about the guys who are pitching here and if there’s a need here," Showalter said. "I think whenZach [Britton] made a lot of strides was when he realized he wasn’t on a rehab assignment. He realized he was pitching to present himself as the first option to come back when we had a need.
"So Brian controls that," Showalter said. "He doesn’t control how people are pitching up here. I’m hoping Miguel gets back on the horse the next time out and Tilly has back-to-back good outings, and we have good depth in Triple-A."
