BALTIMORE — Prior to Thursday’s series finale against Boston, the Orioles officially placed starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-handed pitcher Mike Wright from Triple-A Norfolk.
Gonzalez suffered a right groin strain in Tuesday’s start against the Red Sox, which forced him to depart in the fifth inning. With the 31-year-old still experiencing soreness 48 hours later, the Orioles made the move, which gives them a seventh man in the bullpen while lefty Brian Matusz serves the remainder of his eight-game suspension that concludes with Saturday’s game.
“I’m a little bummed, but I understand it’s the right thing to do,” said Gonzalez, who previously spent time on the DL in 2013 due to a blister and last year because of a strained oblique. “It’s not feeling any better; it’s still sore. As I walk, I still feel it. I think we just go from there and see what happens.”
Optioned to the minors last Friday, Wright was only eligible to return to the majors to replace an injured player and would not have been able to be recalled until Monday under the normal circumstances in which a player must remain in the minor leagues for 10 days. Manager Buck Showalter said the 25-year-old right-hander will be available in relief for the next few games and remains an option to make Sunday’s start against the New York Yankees.
In four starts for the Orioles, the rookie has posted a 2-1 record with a 2.96 ERA in 24 1/3 innings.
“I like Miguel and I don’t want anybody to be hurt, obviously, but it’s nice to be [back] up here,” Wright said. “I hope I’m still available for Sunday, but I’m going to try my best to help win the next three games until then. If’ I’m available then, that’s when I’ll pitch.”
The Orioles remain optimistic that Gonzalez won’t miss more than the minimum 15 days. The veteran starter told reporters his groin injury was not as severe as the one suffered by infielder Ryan Flaherty earlier this season.
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Gonzalez had a similar injury in 2013 — Showalter described this strain as “a little tick worse” — but an off-day allowed the Orioles to rearrange their rotation in order to keep him off the DL then.
In other injury-related news, Showalter said first baseman Chris Davis only experienced a cramp when he appeared to tweak something during Wednesday’s game. He remained in the game and was serving as the designated hitter on Thursday.
On the same day Chris Tillman was making his 130th career start and center fielder Adam Jones was playing in his 1,089th game for Baltimore, former Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard announced his retirement. Those two current Orioles were the centerpiece of a trade that sent the left starter to the Seattle Mariners in 2008.
