Feeling the effects of Thursday’s rain delay, a short start from Ubaldo Jimenez on Friday, and Saturday night’s 13-inning affair, the Orioles have again turned to Triple-A Norfolk for bullpen help.
Prior to Sunday’s finale against the Miami Marlins, the Orioles selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Chaz Roe and optioned lefty T.J. McFarland to the Tides. To make room for Roe on the 40-man roster, the Orioles transferred left-handed reliever Wesley Wright to the 60-day disabled list.
The 28-year-old Roe carries some major league experience, posting a 4.03 ERA in 21 appearances for Arizona in 2013 and making three appearances for the New York Yankees last season. He was 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in 24 2/3 innings for the Tides this season.
McFarland gave up the winning run in Saturday’s 1-0 loss and had appeared in three of Baltimore’s last four games, but many figured rookie Oliver Drake would be optioned after throwing three innings in Saturday’s game. Of course, the Naval Academy product’s impressive performance may have forced manager Buck Showalter’s hand in keeping him around for the time being.
With Thursday’s doubleheader, the Orioles will need an additional starter, which could be McFarland or Bud Norris, who is currently on the 15-day DL and slated to pitch at Double-A Bowie on Wednesday. Of course, Norris’ disastrous start for Norfolk on Friday doesn’t inspire much confidence in him as he was already off to a nightmarish start in 2015.
In other pitching news, left-hander Brian Matusz is expected to receive a suspension — likely in line with the eight-game ban Milwaukee pitcher Will Smith recently received — after being ejected from Saturday’s game for having a foreign substance on his arm. However, no word is expected to come until after the holiday weekend.
