Zach Britton

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.

Veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia, who could have opted out of his minor league deal with the Orioles after his fifth start of the season Sunday, has told the organization he will stay until at least May 14. “Freddy is a qualified major leaguer and hopefully we can find a spot for him,” Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said. Pitching for Triple-A Norfolk, the 36-year-old Garcia leads the International League in wins (four) and innings pitched (33 2/3). Garcia, who is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA with 21 strikeouts and two walks on the season, was just named the International League pitcher of the week Monday after going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in a pair of eight inning starts this past week.

Orioles top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy underwent an injection of platelet-rich plasma in his sore right forearm/elbow area Monday in Florida and will not do baseball activities for at least six weeks while he rests and rehabs. “It's good news that they're recommending rest and therapy and then a resumption of the throwing program,” Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said. “It seems like a bump in the road.” Bundy, 20, has been dealing with tightness in his forearm and elbow since late March.

Zach Britton had been wondering for four days whether he'd get into a big league game against the Oakland A's. He didn't. And that's not a bad thing. Because now the 25-year-old lefty gets the call to start Monday night at Safeco Field against the Seattle Mariners in what will be Britton's 2013 big league debut. "I am definitely excited. I just want to kind of continue what I was doing in Norfolk and not try to change anything," said Britton, who was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three Triple-A games.

Buck Showalter made it official today in his pre-game meeting with reporters - well, he made it almost official today. Zach Britton, as expected, will make his 2013 debut as the club's starter Monday at Safeco Field against the Seattle Mariners and Britton's old Orioles teammate, Joe Saunders. However, that still could change if the Orioles play a long, extra innings game today in Oakland and need Britton in an emergency. In that case, they would have to scramble for a starter Monday.

Throwing a game away - literally - doesn't usually sit well with teams, especially when they are attempting to establish themselves as consistent winners. So when the Orioles dropped a 9-8, 10-inning loss to the Oakland A's Sunday afternoon on consecutive poor throws following sacrifice bunt attempts, it would be understandable if the players were chewing nails in post-game interviews. For the most part, that was not the case - not after the Orioles (15-10) took three of four in their personal pain chamber, the Oakland Coliseum, to kick off a brutal, three-city, 11-game West Coast swing.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he still has not made a decision who will pitch Monday at Seattle. A lot depends on whether Zach Britton will be needed today in relief. Freddy Garcia, who is slated to pitch Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk, is the other candidate. Wilson Betemit (right knee) has progressed to exercise activities in a pool, including the underwater treadmill. He is in Sarasota, Fla. There is no set timetable for his return. Brian Roberts (hamstring) has started light jogging in Sarasota.

OAKLAND, Calif - Orioles manager Buck Showalter's focus was on the Oakland Athletics on Friday night, but that doesn't mean he didn't have an eye on what was happening in Charlotte. Right-hander Jake Arrieta, who was demoted Monday after compiling a 6.63 ERA in four big league starts, made his 2013 Triple-A debut Friday night for the Norfolk Tides at the Charlotte Knights. Facing the Chicago White Sox's Triple-A affiliate, which has several former major leaguers including Brent Morel, Lars Anderson and ex-Orioles Josh Bell and Steve Tolleson, Arrieta passed his first test down below.

OAKLAND, Calif. - When Zach Britton left the Orioles in March, he felt like he wasn't in a situation in which he could succeed in the majors. The 25-year-old left-hander believed he needed to go the minors and recapture what made him so effective when he first arrived in Baltimore in 2011. For the most part that meant regaining the feel and command of his heavy sinkerball. "I needed to get back to what I did best, throw the sinkerball. And that's what I kind of got back to down at Norfolk," said Britton, who was promoted from Triple-A on Thursday to, at least initially, provide bullpen depth.

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.