The Orioles' two youngest pitchers, Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz, will make only two or three more starts before being shut down for the remainder of the season in an attempt to limit the rookies' workload.
"How exactly it is going to map out I couldn't tell you that because it's dependent on how their starts go between now and then," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "But, in general, I could see them going a couple of weeks in September, and that's about it."
The duo will be joining Brad Bergesen on the sideline. MacPhail said Monday that Bergesen, who has been out since July 31 with a leg bruise, will not pitch again this year. Bergesen is still rehabilitating at the club's minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla.
"I think we're going to continue to let him do what he wants to do to get in shape, but he will not be here," MacPhail said.
The club's other rookie starters, Jason Berken and David Hernandez, will likely continue to pitch in the big leagues through the end of the season.
"We've got an innings range that we're looking at it," MacPhail said. "It's really a reflection of how hard they have to work and how they're feeling. All innings aren't created equal."
Berken, 25, has thrown 145 or more innings in each of his past two minor league seasons and has logged 116 2/3 this year for the Orioles and Triple-A Norfolk, so his current workload is not a concern.
Hernandez, 24, has thrown 140 or more innings in each of his past three seasons and is at 131 2/3 this year with the Orioles and Norfolk.
"I think Hernandez is going to be OK," MacPhail said. "I think he should be able to get through it unless he really starts to labor or complain of something."
Tillman, 21, threw 135 2/3 innings last year in 28 starts at Double-A Bowie. This year, he has logged 137 innings in 25 starts between Norfolk and the Orioles.
Matusz, 22, threw 26 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League after pitching in 105 innings for the University of San Diego in 2008. This year, he has thrown a combined 143 2/3 innings at Single-A Frederick, Bowie and with the Orioles.
To fill their spots in the rotation, the Orioles could recall starters Chris Lambert and Chris Waters from Norfolk next week.
Neither Matusz nor Tillman has heard anything official from the team, but both said they would like to finish September in the rotation.
