Orioles manager Buck Showalter said right-hander Josh Stinson was the obvious fit to give the Orioles some length in the bullpen Wednesday if lefty starter Wei-Yin Chen runs into trouble in his first start back from the disabled list.
"We wanted to have some [bullpen] coverage tonight. I don't think anybody can predict how Wei-Yin is going to feel physically. We want to make sure we're covered there," Showalter said. "In talking to [Norfolk manager Ron Johnson], he's probably his most durable guy. He always comes up to him after he pitches a day later and says, 'If you need an inning, I got it.'"
Stinson, 25, made one major league appearance earlier this year, a start on April 24 in which he allowed five runs on four homers against Toronto. He has been at Triple-A Norfolk since – and has pitched well lately. He's allowed just six earned runs in his past 21 innings, including no earned runs in seven innings Saturday.
"He pitched well. He had a real good outing the last time out," Showalter said. "He's still a young guy, 25. Has a good arm."
Perhaps the big thing for choosing Stinson – besides that he is already on the 40-man roster – is that he has relief experience with the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He's started just two of his 21 major league games and 128 of his 237 minor league games have been in relief.
"I'm very comfortable [in the bullpen]." Stinson said. "I've thrown multiple years out of the bullpen. All of '09, half of 2010, half of '11."