O's place Chen on DL, recall Burnett

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles placed starter Wei-Yin Chen on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain prior to Tuesday's series opener against the San Diego Padres. Reliever Alex Burnett was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk for the third time this season. Infielder Yamaico Navarro was also added, replacing reliever Mike Belfiore, who was optioned yesterday.

Losing Chen for any length of time is a serious problem for an already inconsistent Orioles rotation. After tossing five scoreless innings Sunday before leaving with the injury, the 27-year-old evened his record at 3-3 and lowered his ERA to 3.04. Chen was the team's most reliable starter last year, the only pitcher to start at least 20 games, and had turned in five quality starts in his first seven outings in 2013.

Duquette, who has stockpiled starting pitching since coming to Baltimore, said he felt confident with the organization's internal options. The O's have two off-days this week -- they're also off Thursday -- and remain optimistic that Miguel Gonzalez (blister) will only miss one start. Jair Jurrjens is the most likely candidate to start on Saturday.

Duquette also confirmed that the club will likely use the full 30 days allotted for the rehab assignment of lefty Tsuyoshi Wada, who will make his first Minor League rehab start for Norfolk on Thursday. Wada is about a year removed from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, and he had gotten up to seven innings in extended spring starts. His pitch count will stay around there as the organization works him back in slowly.