After leaving his previous start early, right-handed starting pitcher Chris Bassitt will now head for a stint on the injured list.
The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they're placing Bassitt on the 15-day IL (retroactive to June 5) with low back discomfort. In a corresponding move, the O's recalled top prospect right-hander Trey Gibson from Triple-A Norfolk, who will start tonight against the Seattle Mariners.
As already alluded to, Bassitt exited his last start early on June 3 against the Boston Red Sox due to what was initially called lower back tightness. He lasted just three innings, allowing three earned runs and a home run on six hits as well as issuing two walks, striking out just one.
Despite there being some level of optimism that Bassitt would be on track to make his next start, the right-hander will now instead be on the shelf for the forseeable future.
Baltimore signed Bassitt to a one-year, $18.5 million deal in the offseason with the hopes of providing durabilty to an Orioles starting staff that was marred by injuries last season. In 12 games (10 starts) this season, the 37-year-old is 5-5 with a disappointing 5.27 ERA, 37 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.63 in 56.1 innings of work.
The Orioles will now turn to the rookie Gibson, who will start his third career game tonight. In five appearances thus far, the 24-year-old has a 3.65 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.
Gibson is the Orioles' No. 4 ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Orioles enter play on Monday with a 31-35 record and eight games back of the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees in the American League East division. However, they're only 1.5 games out from the third and final Wild Card spot in a weak AL.
