Zach Britton

The Orioles have called up left-hander Zach Britton before tonight's series opener against the A's to add an extra arm to a taxed bullpen. Britton was scratched from his scheduled start for Triple-A Norfolk tonight. After optioning right-hander Josh Stinson following Wednesday's game, the Orioles said they would make a corresponding move today. Britton, who is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in three starts at Norfolk, is coming off a six-inning, one-run outing in his last start a week ago. He could provide long relief in the Orioles bullpen for the next four games in Oakland and, if available, could fill the void for a starting pitcher Monday in Seattle.

If you believe that the Orioles' unexpected run to the postseason in 2012 was something of magic, then the most dazzling trick the organization pulled off was consistently pulling productive starters out of their sleeves. Executive vice president Dan Duquette, who had been out of baseball for a decade, stockpiled pitchers in his first offseason with the Orioles, adding to the group of now-not-so-young arms compiled by his processor, Andy MacPhail, then practically running a shuttle that shuffled players from Norfolk and Bowie to Camden Yards.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles left-handed pitcher Zach Britton continued to progress in his throwing program recovering from left-shoulder inflammation Monday, throwing about 60 long-toss throws from 100 feet, including 15 pitches from his full delivery motion. The 24-year-old Britton is slated to throw another 60 pitches again Tuesday, the first time he will throw for back-to-back days. "The best way to sum it up is that I feel as good on the morning I wake up and I'm throwing as the day after," Britton said.

To clear a roster spot for right-hander Miguel Gonzalez's return from the disabled list Tuesday, the Orioles optioned right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk after just one start with the big league club. The move created a vacant spot in the starting rotation for Thursday's game in Toronto. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that the leading candidates to fill that spot are right-hander Jake Arrieta and left-hander T.J. McFarland, depending on how the two are used out of the bullpen in the meantime.

Orioles starting pitcher Zach Britton is still experiencing inflammation in his left shoulder and will start spring trainingwith a progressive throwing program, but he and the team expect he'll be ready to compete for a rotation spot. The 24-year-old left-hander who was 11-11 with a 4.61 ERA in 28 starts as a rookie last year said he has dealt with lingering inflammation since he was placed on the disabled list last August. He said he has taken anti-inflammatory medication and rested, but the soreness wasn't improving.

Less than two weeks ago, the Orioles were tied for first place in the American League East. Despite subpar starting pitching, they were winning games -- more than 60 percent of them -- because Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis were pounding the ball and the Baltimore bullpen continued to be a stabilizing force. The top-heavy offense is still producing -- the Orioles scored 17 runs over the weekend -- but with the rotation being held together with bandages and Scotch tape, closer Jim Johnson having blown back-to-back save opportunities, and seemingly every bounce going the other way right now , the 23-20 Orioles are free-falling.

To clear a roster spot for right-hander Miguel Gonzalez's return from the disabled list Tuesday, the Orioles optioned right-hander Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk after just one start with the big league club. The move created a vacant spot in the starting rotation for Thursday's game in Toronto. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that the leading candidates to fill that spot are right-hander Jake Arrieta and left-hander T.J. McFarland, depending on how the two are used out of the bullpen in the meantime.

Zach Britton, the Orioles' top pitching prospect, has yet to allow a run in nine innings of work this spring. The Orioles don't want to start his arbitration clock earlier than they have to, but Britton's brilliance has thrust him into the conversation for the fifth spot in manager Buck Showalter's Opening Day rotation. Britton pitched four scoreless innings in the Orioles' 6-4 win over the Astros on Saturday, and afterward, he talked about how he's trying to make the decision tough for team management.

Left-hander Zach Britton, who led the Orioles in wins as a rookie last season, has mostly struggled in three previous starts at Triple-A Norfolk. But on Thursday, Britton took a significant step toward rejoining the Orioles' starting rotation, turning in his best Triple-A performance this season. Britton issued his first quality start in four starts with the Tides, allowing just two runs on three hits over six innings in a 5-3 win against Buffalo. Britton also struck out five, the most he's had in a game since joining the Tides, and issued two walks.

Left-hander Zach Britton took another step toward rejoining the Orioles starting rotation Thursday night, throwing seven strong innings for Double-A Bowie in a 3-2, 14-inning loss at Akron. Britton, making his second minor league rehab start for the Baysox, allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits through seven innings, striking out five and walking one. Britton threw 92 pitches, 55 of them for strikes, and induced 12 groundouts versus just four fly-ball outs. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that Britton, who is rehabbing from left shoulder impingement, will be re-evaluated after Thursday's start.

Less than two weeks ago, the Orioles were tied for first place in the American League East. Despite subpar starting pitching, they were winning games -- more than 60 percent of them -- because Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis were pounding the ball and the Baltimore bullpen continued to be a stabilizing force. The top-heavy offense is still producing -- the Orioles scored 17 runs over the weekend -- but with the rotation being held together with bandages and Scotch tape, closer Jim Johnson having blown back-to-back save opportunities, and seemingly every bounce going the other way right now , the 23-20 Orioles are free-falling.

Frankly, Jason Hammel has been playing with fire all season. The Orioles' Opening Day starter hasn't been crisp - honest-to-goodness smooth and effortless like in early 2012 - at all in nine starts. Sure, he beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day in a quality start (three runs in six innings) and then beat himself up afterward for not having good command. Then there were his six innings without an earned run against Oakland on April 25 in which he threw only 59 of his 104 pitches for strikes, but got away with a lot of mistakes.

The Baltimore sports scene is blessed with a bunch of talented bloggers who bring their unique perspective to the conversation. Each week, I hope to chat with one of them in a regular feature called Blogger on Blogger. This week, I exchanged emails with Matt Taylor, who blogs about the Orioles for Roar From 34 . MV: You recently wrote that last year you were waiting for the bottom to fall out with this team, but that isn't the case this season. What makes you believe that this Orioles team has staying power?

This may come as a surprise to loyal Orioles fans, but the club is going to make a roster move on Sunday. I was kidding about the surprise part. The Orioles' Norfolk Express, which in the last three weeks has brought Josh Stinson, Zach Britton, Luis Exposito, Zach Clark, Steve Johnson, Freddy Garcia and Alex Burnett (twice), will be running again Sunday morning. Technically, the reliever that will be called up will be coming from Syracuse, where the Tides are this weekend.

SEATTLE - Before Tuesday night's game against the Seattle Mariners, the Orioles demoted their previous night's starter, Zach Britton, and called up another arm for their bullpen. Cycling in fresh relievers has become a necessity for a club that continues to rely on a superb relief corps to keep them going. In a 7-2 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night, the Orioles posted four runs in the first, had a 13-hit attack and were in control all game. And yet manager Buck Showalter again had to ask his bullpen to pitch four full innings - using four relievers  - to secure the victory, which snapped the club's modest two-game losing streak.

SEATTLE -- The Orioles lost to former teammate Joe Saunders and the Seattle Mariners , 6-2, Monday night at Safeco Field. Here's what some of the key figures had to say afterward:   Buck Showalter on Zach Britton: “Pitched OK. All things considered. I think the last inning he gave up runs they hit one ball out of the infield. He got through the first inning, I thought he fared well after he gave up the home run. He gave us a chance. We just didn't do much off Saunders.” Showalter on Saunders: “He pitched well, obviously.

Orioles left-hander Zach Britton appears at least one more day closer to returning to full form. Britton, who is rehabbing from left shoulder inflammation, had his second bullpen session moved up one day to today, throwing about 30 pitches off a full mound. Originally he was slated to have two days off after his first session Friday and throw again Monday. "I think it was a lot better than the first one," Britton said. "I felt more comfortable on the mound today. I was able to make adjustments a lot quicker, too, and I was throwing a little bit harder, my tempo was a little better.

* Adam Jones' six-year, $85.5 million deal -- which will be formally announced this morning -- is the largest in Orioles history. It breaks down this way: He'll get $2M signing bonus; $8.5M in 2013; $13M in 2014 and 2015; $16M in 2016 and 2017; and $17M in 2018. With escalators, it could reach $91.5 million. Regardless, it is the second-largest total-value contract for a center fielder behind the Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp's ($160M).   He is ahead of Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen ($51.5M)

SEATTLE - The Orioles had a pretty good sense as to what they were going to see against former teammate Joe Saunders on Monday night. They had no idea what they could expect from their own starting pitcher. Lefty Zach Britton, making his first start of the season for the Orioles after a solid beginning in the minors, was hoping that his rediscovered sinker would translate to the big leagues. It was there at times, but on a cold night at Safeco Field, Britton averaged two baserunners per inning in the Orioles' 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

SEATTLE -- The Orioles have made a series of roster moves before tonight's game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Right-hander Zach Clark (UMBC) has been called up from Triple-A Norfolk and catcher Chris Snyder -- acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday -- has also been activated. Lefty Zach Britton, who allowed six runs in six innings Monday night here, has been optioned back to Norfolk. Catcher Luis Exposito has been designated for assignment, clearing room on the 40-man roster for Snyder.