With this major league season entering its second month, the Orioles are finding themselves in the unenviable position of having a short stock of starting pitchers.
The most pressing need of the season will come Wednesday, when the Orioles won't have a pitcher on turn and might have to rely on the bullpen to get them through the series finale against the Minnesota Twins.
It's a problem that was created this weekend, and unfortunately for the Orioles, there was no obvious solution. That means some combination of a bullpen game —which could be started by swingman Vance Worley or any number of other relievers. Another option is Saturday's starter, Ubaldo Jimenez, coming back on short rest.
All of Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens, and Brad Brach have pitched multi-inning outings this season, though the bullpen is missing a lot of length without left-hander T.J. McFarland, who on Saturday was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
It leaves a lot of options in play, but none that jump out as the simple move," manager Buck Showalter said.
"A lot depends on what happens Monday and Tuesday — and today for that matter. All things are in play — and I mean all."
With Saturday's doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics, they used Friday's scheduled starter, Jimenez, along with the original Saturday starter, Mike Wright. Manager Buck Showalter said ahead of that game he considered calling up a pitcher from the minors to start, but there were no obvious candidates.
With Miguel Gonzalez released in spring training and Yovani Gallardo on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, they've had the two pitchers thought to be the top starting deputies, Wright and Tyler Wilson, in the major league rotation already.
That leaves six starters on the 40-man roster in the minors — Odrisamer Despaigne, Chris Lee, Parker Bridwell, Jason Garcia, Jayson Aquino, and David Hale. Hale, who the Orioles claimed from the Rockies, pitches Sunday and has just six innings over two starts since joining the organization. Lee allowed a run on seven hits in six innings Saturday for Double-A Bowie, taking him out of contention unless the organization lets him pitch on short rest for his debut, which is unlikely.
Despaigne is scheduled to pitch one half of a doubleheader for Triple-A Norfolk Tuesday, but is 0-4 with a 5.10 ERA so far this season. He hasn't gotten much run support, but he also has a 1.50 WHIP over the first month.
Bridwell has battled command issues this season, but walked a season-low two batters in allowing a run on six hits in his most recent start for Double-A Bowie. He has a 3.55 ERA in five starts, with 13 strikeouts, 15 walks, and a 1.38 WHIP in 25 1/3 innings pitched. Garcia, who was a reliever in the majors last season as a Rule 5 pick, has a 6.86 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP in four starts this season. He, like Hale, pitches Sunday, which would rule him out for a spot start on two days rest Wednesday. Aquino, who has a 4.43 ERA, is scheduled to pitch Monday.
There haven't been any true standout performers in the high minors who are off the 40-man roster, save for right-hander David Hess, who has 2.42 ERA in five starts for Bowie and is scheduled to pitch Tuesday for the Baysox. In Norfolk, right-hander Nick Additon and left-hander Ariel Miranda would also need to be added to the 40-man roster. Miranda is scheduled to start Monday, while Additon last pitched on Friday. That would put him in line to make his next start Wednesday.