SEATTLE -- On the heels of another short start, the Orioles optioned starter Tyler Wilson to Triple-A Norfolk and called up left-hander Ariel Miranda. Miranda, who added a fresh piece to an overworked bullpen, had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk with reliever Brian Duensing transferred to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot.
"He pitched well the last few outings, we needed an arm," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Miranda, who made his big league debut in Sunday's 9-4 loss, allowing three runs on four hits over two innings.
Wilson, who lasted just three innings in Saturday's 12-6 loss, didn't have a lot of crispness to his pitches and with Thursday's off-day, the Orioles don't need a fifth starter until after the All-Star break. Showalter said they could slot Ubaldo Jimenez in Wilson's next spot.
"We are going to let him take some time off. He's thrown over 100 innings, counting Spring Training. A lot of people throw out Spring Training, he's been throwing since late January, early February," Showalter said of Wilson, who allowed a season-high eight runs including three homers on Saturday. "Want to try to freshen him up, crisp him up. We've talked to him about targeting how much time to take off. He's pitched some really good games for us this year. Hit a little lull here, like a lot of pitchers do at this level."
The 27-year-old Miranda went 3-7 with a 4.06 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 15 games with the Tides this season. He also gave the O's another lefty beyond closer Zach Britton.
"The thing that helped me over there [in Nofolk] was to get ahead in the count," Miranda said through an interpreter. "After that it was locating the second and third pitch. For me, that helped me get better"
Miranda was originally signed by the Orioles as a free agent on a Minor League contract on May 27, 2015.