Baltimore Orioles place SP Chris Tillman on 15-Day Disabled List

Just as the Baltimore Orioles were getting the five man rotation finalized, the team had to place SP Chris Tillman on the 15-day DL. The right-hander has been dealing with pain in his abdomen. The injury traces back to as early as March 10 when Tillman was scratched from his Spring Training start.

This move is retroactive to March 22 which will allow Tillman to return to the mound on April 6 for him to make his first start of 2013. Tillman was projected to be the third or fourth starter coming into the season. Taking his place will be either Brian Matusz or Jake Arrieta. The official diagnosis of Tillman’s injury is a strained abdomen.

The Orioles are hoping he comes back healthy as they are expecting big things from the 23-year-old. In 2012 marking his fourth stint at the pro level, he posted an impressive record of 9-3 in 15 starts. He held opposing hitters to a measly .207 batting average. Tillman has been with the Orioles organization since 2008 after coming over from the Seattle Mariners.

The Orioles have finally began to catch the injury bug as this is the second person to placed on the DL in the past few days (Wilson Betemit.) Fortunately Tillman is only out for a few weeks, while Betemit is out six to eight weeks.

With Tillman going on the DL the decision of picking a fifth starter has been given a brief extension until he returns from the DL at the end of the seasons first week.