The Orioles took a huge step Monday toward setting their 25-man roster for Friday's season opener, making moves with eight players, including sending outfielder Nolan Reimold to the minors and potentially severing ties with veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson.
But just when things looked to be flatlining in a tumultuous spring, the Orioles were thrown another curve as No. 2 starter Brian Matusz was struck in the left biceps by a liner during a simulated game Monday afternoon.
"It was in the second inning. I was feeling good, I was starting to get in a good groove, and [Orioles farmhand] L.J. Hoes came up and hit a fastball right back at my arm," said Matusz, who did not need X-rays. "I put ice on it right away. I got a couple of treatments. We put a pressure pad on it, just to keep the inflammation down. We'll see how it feels tomorrow."
Matusz's injury comes three days after projected starter Brad Bergesen was struck in the right forearm while pitching in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins. Bergesen still hopes to earn a rotation spot and start Sunday's third game of the regular season, while Matusz plans to take his turn Saturday in Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
"I'm optimistic. I don't even think it is going to set me back at all. If anything, I'm upset about not continuing to get my work in," said Matusz, who originally was supposed to pitch in a minor league game Monday that was canceled because of wet conditions. "I was starting to feel good. I was starting to get in a good groove. I wanted to get in a little more work. We'll see how it feels [Tuesday] and just go from there. That's pretty much all you can do."
Although the rotation is suddenly in flux, manager Buck Showalter said he believes Matusz, who has allowed 17 hits, seven walks and nine earned runs in 132/3 innings, has pitched enough this spring to be ready for Saturday.
"I think so, if he's OK," Showalter said. "But we've still got something going on there with Bergesen and Matusz."
If they aren't ready, Showalter said, he is considering several options, including top prospect Zach Britton "or another pitcher. I don't know. [Britton] would be one of the candidates."
Although there has been no official roster pronouncement from the club, if Matusz is healthy, the Orioles basically have 22 spots set, meaning four players are essentially fighting for three openings: pitchers Chris Tillman and Bergesen, catcher Craig Tatum and infielder Robert Andino.
That's assuming catcher-utility man Jake Fox, who hit his major league-leading 10th homer of the spring Monday afternoon, makes the team. It would be surprising if he didn't.
Joining Reimold and Hendrickson in Monday's reassignment to minor league camp were pitchers Clay Rapada, David Riske, Ryan Drese and Pat Egan and infielder Nick Green. Outfielder Randy Winn asked for and was granted his unconditional release.
Those moves reduced the number of players in camp to 30, which includes pitcher Rick VandenHurk, who left the team Sunday but was waiting to hear whether he cleared waivers before he could be sent to the minors.
Also still around were infielder Brendan Harris, who soon will be reassigned to the minors, and pitcher Justin Duchscherer, who will start the season on the disabled list. And then there's Britton, who has a 1.35 ERA after allowing just two earned runs in six innings against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Despite his spring performance (three earned runs in 20 innings), he likely will be sent to the minors for at least 20 days to delay his free-agency clock by one full season.
That essentially leaves the Orioles with 26 viable roster candidates heading into Tuesday's exhibition finale in Sarasota. The 25-man roster must be set by 11 a.m. Thursday.
Reimold's demotion wasn't surprising considering he was battling for the outfield reserve spot with Felix Pie, who is out of minor league options. The Orioles want Reimold, 27, to play every day in the minors after a lost 2010 season in which he hit .207 in 39 games in the big leagues and battled injuries and off-the-field issues. He rebounded this spring, batting .315 with three homers, 10 RBIs and a .448 on-base percentage in 24 games.
"He had a really good offseason. He put a lot of the challenges he had last year behind him and put himself in a good spot to get back to the 2009 form that I had heard about," Showalter said. "I know it's frustrating for him, but it was frustrating for us also to see all the struggles he went through last year. If he hadn't had the challenge he had last year, he'd probably be in a different [situation] … but he's put the tough part behind him, and I think he's got the best ahead of him. He'll be back."
Hendrickson, 36, spent the past two seasons with the Orioles, filling various roles on the pitching staff while endearing himself to teammates and staff for his professionalism. He allowed nine hits and three walks in 91/3 innings this spring while posting a 3.86 ERA.
"It's really tough. Mark's been in the big leagues for eight-plus years," Showalter said. "He's quality, good father, good husband, solid human being. He's a professional, so it's tough, but I think he also kind of understands."
Hendrickson and Riske, a 34-year-old right-handed reliever, haven't decided whether to accept their assignment to Triple-A or opt out of their minor league contracts and become free agents.
"I think [Hendrickson] will pitch in the big leagues this year," Showalter said. "I hope it's for us, but I fully expect him to have some options, the same way I do with Riske."
Hendrickson was outpitched this spring by right-handed long relievers Josh Rupe [no earned runs in 132/3 innings] and Jason Berken (3.46 ERA in eight games). The decision to take Rupe and Berken and not Hendrickson or Rapada means the Orioles will break camp with Michael Gonzalez as the only lefty in the bullpen.
Showalter said he'll live with that deficiency since he is more concerned initially about having effective long relievers to help provide insurance for the inexperienced starters.
"It's not the conventional [way], but … with so many young pitchers in our rotation, we are going to err on the side of length there," Showalter said. "Like I told Clay [Rapada], you see his success against left-handed hitters in his career and here, and once we get the rotation settled down, I think we'll be able to have a better opportunity to carry that luxury."
Bergesen is considered the leading rotation candidate if he's healthy. If Tillman wins the job, Bergesen could be moved to the bullpen until April 10, when the Orioles need a fifth starter. Tillman is not considered a bullpen candidate. If they both made the roster, then Andino or Tatum would be the odd man out.
Andino is out of options and likely would be claimed on waivers by another club, so he is a favorite for the roster barring an 11th-hour trade. Tatum has a minor league option remaining, which makes him more likely than Andino be sent out.
NOTES: Showalter called Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein on Sunday night to address recent critical comments the Orioles manager made about Epstein in Men's Journal. Showalter had spoken to Boston manager Terry Francona earlier Sunday. "I just felt like I needed to call him. [The comments] just caused them to sit around and answer questions or whatever, so I spoke to both them. … They are not the ones that caused it." … In the same article, Showalter also expressed displeasure with the way New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter jumps back from balls close to the inside part of the plate. Asked whether he has spoken to Jeter, Showalter said, "I've talked to Derek a couple of times, but not lately." ... Duchscherer (elbow) threw 30 pitches in two innings during Monday's simulated game.
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Baltimore Sun reporter Jeff Zrebiec contributed to this article.