BALTIMORE — Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman is moving closer to his return from the disabled list, but what that exactly means remains to be seen.
Manager Buck Showalter revealed Friday that the 24-year-old right-hander will pitch two innings for Single-A Frederick on Tuesday after he allowed two home runs and four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings at Double-A Bowie on Thursday. Though desiring better results, Gausman said he feels healthy and threw all of his pitches, including the curveball he began throwing at the end of spring training.
“That’s the biggest thing. Physically, I felt good,” Gausman said prior to Friday’s series opener with the New York Yankees. “Today, I woke up [with] my normal soreness and not anything worse than what I was expecting. It was kind of tough in the heat yesterday, but I got my electrolytes in me last night.”
Considering the goal has been to move Gausman back into a starting role since he was placed on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis last month, his next outing only being scheduled to go two innings sends mixed signals.
The Orioles are hoping to use rookie Mike Wright in place of the injured Miguel Gonzalez for Sunday’s start, but that slot’s next turn would fall on Friday in Toronto. It’s possible that Gausman could take a “work day” against live hitters at Frederick before entering the Baltimore rotation next weekend.
Placed on the DL with a right groin strain on Thursday, Gonzalez isn’t eligible to be activated until June 25 at the earliest.
Gausman only threw 61 pitches in his last rehab start, so it’s unclear how far the Orioles would be willing to extend him if he were to take the hill next weekend against the Blue Jays. Of course, it’s always possible that the Orioles could be rethinking what to do with the talented pitcher and might consider returning him to the bullpen despite the fact that the young pitcher attributed sporadic relief work as a factor that could have led to his shoulder issue earlier this season.
Showalter wasn’t tipping his hand when asked about the rationale for Gausman only being slated to pitch two innings in his next rehab start.
“I think that will reveal itself as we go forward,” Showalter said. “He’s ready to go in any capacity we need him to go.”
In 20 starts last season, Gausman went 7-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 113 1/3 innings before excelling in a bullpen role in the postseason. He was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings out of the bullpen before being placed on the DL on May 8.
NOTES: Second baseman Jonathan Schoop (right knee) will travel from Sarasota to Baltimore on Sunday and work out with the Orioles four days next week. When the club travels to Toronto, the 23-year-old is expected to join Double-A Bowie, but it remains uncertain that he would immediately begin his rehab assignment at that time. … Left-handed reliever Wesley Wright (left trapezius) pitched one inning in an extended spring game on Friday and is primed to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. … Since April 29, the Orioles bullpen ranks fourth in the majors and third in the American League with a 2.34 ERA over 115 1/3 innings.
