The Maryland Sports Blog

The Baltimore Orioles are going through starting pitchers quickly. With the fifth stop being held by Freddy Garcia and Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez hurt the starting rotation needs arms. It looks like Jair Jurrijens will start for the Orioles Saturday according to this tweet by Ken Rosenthal.

Sources: Jurrjens will make #Orioles debut Saturday against #Rays. 3.14 ERA in 8 starts at AAA, 36 Ks, 15 BBs, 2 HRs allowed in 51 2/3 IP.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 14, 2013

Jurrijens is has pitched well for the Norfolk Tides this season but had a bad start last night. Still he maybe the best option right now. Jake Arrieta has pitched better but has a minor injury.

The Orioles seem to be closer to pushing Kevin Gausman who has a 3.35 era for the Bowie Baysox. Gausman is the Orioles top pitching prospect and is an extremely talented pitcher.

Jurrijens has been a very successful major league pitcher in the past when he pitched for the Atlanta Braves, he was a former All-Star.  Injuries have hurt Jurrijens more than anything but if he has decent stuff he can be successful again.

As expected Chen will go on the DL.  Here are the two new Orioles according to this tweet from Dan Connolly.

Yamaico Navarro and Alex Burnett are the callups.

— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) May 14, 2013

Burnett has been up with the Orioles this season.  Navarro has not he is an infielder who will  provide depth.

The Baltimore Orioles placed backup catcher Taylor Teagarden on the DL after a hand injury against the Oakland A’s.  To replace Teagarden the Orioles have called up Luis Exposito who saw time with the Orioles last season.  Exposito is a defensive catcher and should not be expected to do much with the bat.

The Orioles also called up Zach Britton from AAA Norfolk to start tonight’s game against the Seattle Mariners.  Britton has had success in the majors before but injuries got him out of sync.  Britton has a chance to secure the number five stop.

Chris Davis continues to bring the big bat as he hit two home runs against the A’s bringing his total to nine.  Nate McLouth has been the hottest Orioles hitter as he has brought his average up to .351.

Wei-Yin Chen pitched eight scoreless innings against the A’s which has been the Orioles best outing all season.

The Orioles are 7-3 in their last 10 games and continue play tonight against the Mariners.

This comes as no surprise but the Baltimore Orioles option Jake Arrieta to AAA Norfolk.  Arrieta has had his ups and downs at the major league level and has not been consistent.

Arrieta’s main trouble has been his walks which have doomed him.  Some innings he shows great command other innings he simply can not throw strikes.  He has had five walks in his past two starts.

Here is a tweet from Brittany Ghiroli about the move.

Jake Arrieta has been optioned to Triple A. Will continue as a starter down there. Obv the big issue isn’t stuff of mechanics but the walks.

— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) April 22, 2013

The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays face off for the second this season.  Here are the tweets from Brittany Ghiroli with the lineups.

#Orioles lineup: McLouth 7, Machado 5, Markakis 9, Jones 8, Davis 3, Wieters 2, Hardy 6, Flaherty 4, Reimold DH, Arrieta SP

— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) April 16, 2013

#Rays lineup: Jennings 8, Johnson DH, Zobrist 4, Longoria 5, Joyce 7, Escobar 6, Loney 3, Lobaton 2, Fuld 9, Hernandez SP

— Brittany Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) April 16, 2013

Reimold seems like he is fitting into the Orioles DH role well, he is the only successful hitter at that spot.  Matt Wieters is protecting Chris Davis who has remained to scorch the ball throughout the young season.