Kevin Gausman to have MRI Friday after being scratched from start with pain in rib cage

MINNEAPOLIS – Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman is scheduled to have an MRI down at Triple-A Norfolk on Friday and the club hopes to get more clarity about a mysterious injury that popped up Thursday.
 
Gausman woke up early Thursday morning with pain in his rib cage, something that was uncomfortable enough to interrupt his sleep at 4 a.m., according to player development director Brian Graham.

He was evaluated by the doctors at Norfolk, who initially believed the injury was an intercostal muscle strain.

Gausman didn't complain of any pain before that and even went to an AHL hockey game in Norfolk with some teammates the night before on the team's off day.

The 23-year-old Gausman will miss Friday's scheduled start for the Tides and, depending on what the MRI shows, he could go on the seven-day minor league disabled list.

Gausman had been dealing with a chest cold for about a week earlier this month, and at first he believed the pain might have had something to do with that.

Gausman has been limited to 75 pitches in each of his first five starts this season in an effort to preserve him to help the big league club late in the season.