After simulated game and side session, Miguel Gonzalez is ready to re-enter rotation

Miguel Gonzalez said this afternoon he is ready to re-enter the Orioles' rotation and pitch against the Yankees tomorrow night. He has been on the disabled list with a right thumb blister since May 9 which was backdated to May 4, the day after his last start. He never made a minor league rehab start but Gonzalez threw in a simulated game at Camden Yards on Friday and got back on the mound Sunday. "I threw a little bit yesterday," he said. "Spinned a couple (threw curveballs) and just worked on my spin, mostly. That was it. I'm ready to go. "I think with the sim game I went around 80 pitches. So I'll be ready to go and hopefully we have a good performance and turn things around." Gonzalez felt he could throw at least 100 pitches in the game tomorrow. "If it's needed, of course," he said. Does he have any concerns about either being rusty or maybe even too strong, not having thrown in a game for about two and a half weeks? "I don't know," he said. "We'll see how it goes throughout the game. Hopefully I stay within myself and go out there and perform." Gonzalez left that last start at Anaheim against the Angels after six innings and 80 pitches due to the blister. He is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA over six starts. It's been tough for him to be completely healthy otherwise but not able to pitch because of one small spot on the inside of his thumb. "I've been telling the guys it was frustrating not being able to be out there because of a blister. You know, it's not an injury, but you just have to wait and heal." Gonzalez has had success against the Yankees, going 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA over two regular season starts last year and then pitching seven innings and giving up just one run last October in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. He took a loss at New York in his second start this season. On April 12 he went six innings, allowing five hits and three runs with two earned in that outing. The Double-A Bowie Baysox today announced the activation of infielder Aaron Baker and pitcher Tim Bascom. Baker actually played yesterday, going 0-for-4 after being out about two weeks. He is batting .250 in 24 games with three homers and six RBIs. Bascom was expected to be loaned to and pitch for a Mexican League team but it doesn't look like he ever made it there. Earlier he pitched two games in relief for the Baysox on April 6 and 10 with an ERA of 2.08 over 4 1/3 innings. Bascom, the Orioles minor league Pitcher of the Year in 2011, will start tonight for the Baysox at Akron.