To make room for Chris Davis on the 25-man roster, the Orioles have placed catcher Matt Wieters on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain.
Wieters hasn't caught since May 4 and has been limited to serving as the Orioles' designated hitter in each of his last four games because of the injury. Wieters was expected to avoid a trip to the disabled list after being examined by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday.
But with the combination of Wieters' health limitations and the Orioles' roster crunch, a DL stint was only delayed.
Wieters is having a strong start to the season, batting .308/.339/.500 with five homers and 18 RBIs in 26 games.
Davis returns to the lineup after being on the DL, retroactive to April 26, because of a left oblique strain.
Update: I'll pass along quotes from manager Buck Showalter later, but he told reporters that Wieters may require a two-to-three week rest period to allow the elbow to "quiet down."
Wieters is "DH-able," Showalter added, but the elbow isn't going to be right if he has to keep interrupting treatment to swing a bat and play in games. May as well shut him down.
Wieters will travel with the club while he's on the DL.
Showalter also indicated that surgery would become an option if Wieters still can't throw by July 1.
Wieters doesn't have acute pain in the elbow, but there's weakness and some discomfort that's prohibiting him from throwing the ball as he's accustomed.
I heard again today that the Orioles are "looking hard" for a veteran backup catcher and Showalter basically confirmed that executive vice president Dan Duquette continues to check the market. However, Showalter also expressed confidence in Steve Clevenger and Caleb Joseph, and noted there are potential in-house candidates in the minors.
"We're looking at other options," he said, "but we hope that we don't have to go there."
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