BOSTON -The Orioles are planning to recall Brad Bergesen to start Tuesday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Camden Yards.
The club, which also considered recalling Triple-A left-hander Chris Waters, will likely hold off on making the announcement until Monday, when it will also have to make a roster move to accommodate Bergesen. However, multiple team sources confirmed that the plan is to give Bergesen an extended look in the rotation in place of injured right-hander Alfredo Simon, who is out at least a month, if not much longer, with elbow problems.
It will be the major league debut for Bergesen, a 23-year-old right-hander who was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season. Bergesen is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk and has allowed six hits and three walks while striking out nine in 11 innings. He'll be pitching Tuesday on five days' rest.
Asked about Tuesday's starter, Orioles manager Dave Trembley was playful and vague, saying, "It will be somebody that is recalled from the minor leagues."
Bergesen, a finesse pitcher, went 16-7 last year in 28 appearances between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie and walked only 33 batters in 165 1/3 innings.
Reliever Radhames Liz is a top candidate to be demoted to Norfolk when Bergesen is recalled.
Wieters' status day-to-day
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Norfolk catcher Matt Wieters, the organization's top prospect, will probably miss a couple of days after he was removed from Friday's game with cramps in his right hamstring. He was re-examined Saturday and diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain, according to director of player development David Stockstill.
"He's day-to-day," MacPhail said. "They don't know the severity of that type of injury until 24 hours afterward, but they don't think it's too serious. I would expect him to be a couple of days, given his position."
Stockstill said although team officials didn't believe Friday that the injury was serious, it still was a relief to hear the diagnosis.
"He just tightened up," said Stockstill, who estimated Wieters will be out three to four days. "He was taken out for precautionary reasons. We obviously didn't think the worst, but you never know until 24 hours later. That's why we're relieved. He's a very, very important part of our future."
Sarfate improved
