The Orioles have placed starter Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on his right thumb and recalled reliever Alex Burnett from Triple-A Norfolk.
Gonzalez's move is retroactive to May 4. He left his start the previous night in Anaheim after six innings and 80 pitches because of the blister.
Gonzalez, 28, is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in six starts this season. He was supposed to throw a bullpen session today before the Orioles determined whether he could take the ball on Saturday in Minnesota.
Now it appears that the Orioles will bring up another starter for Saturday, and Steve Johnson is the likely choice, since his turn at Norfolk falls on the same night. Burnett could be optioned to make room for him.
Burnett spent three days with the Orioles last month, but he didn't get into a game. He's 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA in six relief appearances for the Tides this season, with no walks and eight strikeouts.
The Orioles claimed Burnett off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on April 12. He went 4-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 67 appearances for the Minnesota Twins in 2012.
Johnson made two injury-rehab starts with Norfolk while on the DL with a strained lat. He's made one start since being activated, allowing two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in Buffalo, with one walk and eight strikeouts.
For the Royals
Alcides Escobar SS
Lorenzo Cain CF
Alex Gordon LF
Billy Butler DH
Eric Hosmer 1B
Salvador Perez C
Mike Moustakas 3B
Jeff Francoeur RF
Chris Getz 2B
Jeremy Guthrie RHP
For the Orioles
Nate McLouth LF
Manny Machado 3B
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Matt Wieters C
J.J. Hardy SS
Ryan Flaherty 2B
Nolan Reimold DH
Freddy Garcia RHP
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