Chen, Gausman optioned, but won't miss a start

BALTIMORE -- Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman, who were both optioned to the team's Gulf Coast League team, are still on turn to make their next respective starts early next week for the Orioles.

Both Chen and Gausman, who have Minor League options remaining, were sent down after their last start -- on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively -- to give the O's another position player. September callups start Monday and neither Chen nor Gausman would have thrown prior to that for the O's. The loophole allows the Orioles to make some early expansions to the roster while Chen and Gausman will take their work day with the Gulf Coast League before returning to the team.

"Think there's a chance we won't be able to do this next year," manager Buck Showalter said of the Orioles' bending of the rules, which gives the team a five-man bench for the next few days. "They had a rule they changed last year on us, because we took advantage of it and I think they will change this one, too."

Chen will start Sunday, so the club will have to make at least one more move, which could be briefly sending out another starter who has options. Could the Orioles, who have added Steve Clevenger and Jimmy Paredes, make any more early September callups?

"If we have a problem and we need a pitcher we can get a pitcher here overnight," Showalter said. "That's the only thing I could see happening between now and then."