Orioles Option Starter Brian Matusz
By Editorial Staff
After turning in another abysmal start last night, Brian Matusz has been optioned to Triple-A by the Orioles.
Matusz was lit up again last night, this time by the Cardinals. The lefty only lasted 3.1 innings and allowed 8 ER on 9 hits, raising his ERA to 8.77.
Since returning from the disabled list in the beginning of June Matusz has started 6 games for the Birds, none of which have been of quality. The 24 year old hasn’t made it through 6 full innings this season, and allowed 4 earned runs or more in 4 of his 6 starts. After last night, Matusz has collected losses in his last 4 appearances.
Baltimore knows Matusz can be better, as he showed last season when he ended the year with a sub 2 ERA over his last 8 starts. The Orioles believe it best for him to work out his problems and regain his confidence in the minors.
Manager Buck Showalter shared his thoughts on the move after last night’s game.
"“I just told Brian that we’re going to option him to Norfolk. We’re not going to take him with us to Atlanta, and try to get him in a place where he can hopefully be in a better environment for him to get back to where he needs to be. He’s had 10 to 13 starts, so to speak, depending what you want to count as that, so we’re pretty far down this road for it not to be better than it is. I’m not mad or unhappy with him, I’m just frustrated for him because we know he’s capable of better. It just hasn’t happened here right now with the environment he has to pitch in. It would be different if we had never seen it before. We’ve seen better, so it’s a better place for him to go to try to get better.”"
The O’s have now dropped 12 of their last 17. A large reason for their recent demise has been the club’s pitching, as the team allowed just under 6 runs a game over that stretch.
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