BALTIMORE -- The Orioles' transaction wire has been unusually quiet this season, but that's about to change with the pending return of Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman.
Matusz, who threw four innings on Monday for Class A Advanced Frederick, is slated to be activated off the disabled list on Saturday. Gausman, who started in Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, could be added early next week. Gausman went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits and a pair of walks with nine strikeouts. The pair of moves will change both the rotation and bullpen's current structure and will likely cost the Orioles some length in the 'pen.
Mike Wright, Mychal Givens, Tyler Wilson and T.J. McFarland all have Minor League options remaining, though the lefty McFarland balances out an all-righty rotation. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday he didn't think removing a long man would be an issue.
"If we get six or seven innings out of our starters ... between [Vance] Worley and Tyler, and I wouldn't forget about McFarland's ability to go long, too," he said. "We certainly won't go forward without someone capable of throwing multiple innings."
That won't be Matusz. Despite his outing in Frederick, Showalter said Matusz won't be used as a multi-inning guy.
"Would we like for him to be able to? Could he? Yes. But that [lefty specialist role is] just kind of what we've had success with, doing this with him in the past," Showalter said. "He's had two or three multiple-inning outings. We want to keep the ball in his hand, because when he gets here, that's what's going to happen."