Maybe this is why Arrieta only pitched two innings tonight

O's manager Juan Samuel said the club was "keeping its options open" and that was why Jake Arrieta did not start, but came on in relief in tonight's Triple-A Norfolk vs. Buffalo game. But it's also possible that Arrieta's innings were limited over concern for Jeremy Guthrie, who made his 12th start of the season tonight. Don't get alarmed, I don't think we've got another injury here, but Guthrie did admit after the game that he's felt some "general soreness" lately, although he would not pinpoint anything specific. He said he's felt it for a little while and the O's bench may have been watching him closely tonight to make sure everything went okay with the right-hander. He said he was not certain how he would feel when he went to throw his usual bullpen session during the series in New York. But he said that went okay and also that he felt good coming out of tonight's start. He said that was a good sign that he should be physically okay. That may have been another reason why Arrieta did not start tonight's Triple-A game, but did come on to pitch two innings in relief giving up three hits and one run. Guthrie pitched 21 2/3 innings over a three-start stretch from May 3 to 14, then went six innings exactly in each of his past three starts. Tonight, he took the loss, giving up two runs and five hits over 7 1/3 innings, throwing 95 pitches. He retired 15 in a row at one point and is now 3-6, 3.71 on the year.