Here’s what happened down in the Orioles’ farm system on Tuesday…

* Zach Britton was battered for six earned runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, but Triple-A Norfolk outslugged Lehigh Valley in a 12-7 final

* Henry Urrutia and Brandon Waring each hit three-run homers as Double-A Bowie won an 8-2 final over New Britain

* Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven shutout innings to lead Single-A Bowie to a 7-2 win over Lynchburg

* Tucker Nathans hit two home runs as Single-A Delmarva prevailed in a 7-6 final in 12 innings against Lakewood

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BALTIMORE — With Memorial Day still almost two weeks away, the Orioles appear on the verge of using their 10th starting pitcher of the season as Jair Jurrjens appears to be next in line to take the ball for a shorthanded rotation.

The former Atlanta Braves right-hander will have his contract selected to make his club debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Manager Buck Showalter predictably wouldn’t confirm Jurrjens to get the ball, only labeling him as “an option” to make the start.

Signed to a minor-league contract at the start of spring training, Jurrjens became the obvious candidate when the Orioles elected to recall relief pitcher Alex Burnett to take injured left-handed starter Wei-Yin Chen’s place on the 25-man roster. Right-hander Steve Johnson would have been eligible to be recalled — waiving the 10-day waiting period for being optioned last Saturday — had he been taking the place of a player going to the disabled list.

As part of his agreement upon signing with Baltimore, Jurrjens had a June 15 opt-out clause that allowed him to become a free agent had the club not promoted him to the 25-man roster by then. In seven starts for Triple-A Norfolk, the 27-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 51 2/3 innings. He has allowed 44 hits, struck out 36, and walked 15 batters in his work with the Tides.

Jurrjens was a National League All-Star just two years ago when he went 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 23 starts for Atlanta, but he was demoted to the minor leagues last year as he dealt with a strained groin and finished 3-4 with a 6.89 ERA. In his seventh major league season, Jurrjens has also dealt with knee issues, which was one of the reasons the Orioles opted not to sign the right-hander to a major-league contract this offseason.

The Braves did not offer Jurrjens a contract last offseason as he became a free agent after going 50-36 with a 3.58 ERA in five years with Atlanta.

Chen’s timetable for return unknown

The Orioles officially placed Chen on the DL prior to their series opener with a strained right oblique, which is an injury that could keep him sidelined beyond the 15-day minimum requirement.

Both Chen and Showalter are trying to remain optimistic, but the risk for re-aggravating the muscle often makes the recovery time slower than you’d like to see. Chen will travel to Sarasota toward the end of their current eight-game homestand, but he is not expected to begin throwing again until ample rest has been provided.

“I think there will be some things Wei-Yin will be able to do other than throw, but the actual throwing motion is the last thing that you do,” Showalter said. “It’s a challenge for the people that do it to decide when to do it. If it’s too early, you get another setback. It’s a slippery slope.”

Chen’s absence opens a gigantic hole in the starting rotation as the 27-year-old left-hander is 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA in eight starts this season. In addition to having the lowest ERA among Orioles starters, he was the only starter the club had last season to make more than 20 starts (32) and win more than nine games (12).

Obviously disappointed that he’s unable to pitch for the foreseeable future, Chen understands the importance of taking it slow with an injury commonly known to linger when a hurler tries to come back too soon.

“Fingers crossed for me,” Chen said through his interpreter. “This is a day-to-day progress. I cannot push myself too hard. I just will try to do my best.”

Gonzalez still an option for early next week

Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (blister) played catch on Tuesday and hopes to go on a minor-league rehab assignment later this week, which would keep him in line to return early next week.

Placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 4 with a nasty blister on his right thumb, Gonzalez’s progress has been slower than the club hoped, but the plan is for him to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday without the bandage he’s used to cover the tender area while playing catch. Showalter said Gonzalez wouldn’t necessarily need a length rehab outing on Thursday or Friday to put him in line to return on Tuesday when the Orioles will need a fifth starter.

However, the Orioles will be careful in fear of the skin breaking and beginning the recovery process all over again.

“If we rush it and I had to miss another two or three weeks, we don’t want to do that,” Gonzalez. “I want to be ready to go and be able to perform 100 percent.”

Odds & ends

In addition to Burnett replacing Chen, infielder Yamaico Navarro was recalled to take Mike Belfiore’s spot on the 25-man roster and give the Orioles an extra bench player for the next few days. … Left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada will begin his injury rehab assignment with a start for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday afternoon. … Right-hander Jake Arrieta threw a bullpen session on Tuesday to test out his sore right shoulder. … Brian Roberts has begun riding a stationary bike in Sarasota as he recovers from right hamstring surgery. … Right-handed veteran Freddy Garcia will make the start against San Diego on Wednesday afternoon and Jason Hammel will start Friday in the series opener against Tampa Bay.

The Orioles announced Tuesday that they have placed left-handed Wei-Yin Chen on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 13, with a right oblique strain. The club has also recalled right-handed pitcher Alex Burnett and infielder Yamaico Navarro from Triple-A Norfolk.

Chen was injured during his Sunday start at Minnesota in which he picked up his third win of the year with five scoreless innings. Chen is 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA (47.1IP,16ER) in eight starts for the Orioles. Chen led the Orioles with 32 starts in 2012.

Burnett, 25, joins the Orioles for the third time this year (also April 22-24 and May 9-10). He appeared in one game, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless inning May 9 against Kansas City. In seven games with Triple-A Norfolk, Burnett was 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA (9.2IP, 2ER) and eight strikeouts.

Navarro, 25, returns for a second stint with the Orioles as he was with the club April 5-6 but did not see game action. In 34 games with Norfolk, Navarro was batting .303 (37-122) with two homers and 13 RBI. He scored 28 runs in those 34 games and posted a .395 on-base percentage for the Tides.

Here’s what happened down in the Orioles’ farm system on Monday…

* Jair Jurrjens allowed five earned runs in seven innings of work as Triple-A Norfolk won 8-7 over Syracuse

* Double-A Bowie was off on Monday

* Zach Davies allowed two earned runs in 7 1/3 innings and Nick Delmonico hit a two-run homer as Single-A Frederick won a 7-3 final over Wilmington

* Adrian Marin doubled and tripled as Single-A Delmarva dropped a 4-3 final to Lakewood

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Despite receiving bad news on starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen Monday, the Orioles announced Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada will begin his long-awaited injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk.

The 32-year-old will pitch against Lehigh Valley to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday that can last up to 30 days. Signed to a two-year, $8.15 million contract two winters ago, Wada has yet to throw a pitch for the Orioles after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year.

It’s unclear what Wada’s role would be upon joining the club — his contract stipulates he must sign off before being optioned to the minor leagues — but the southpaw has been stretched out as a starter in extended spring training in Sarasota. Wada is eligible to return from the 60-day disabled list on May 30, but manager Buck Showalter has already said the club won’t rush his rehab assignment with the understanding that he hasn’t pitched competitively in well over a year.

Showalter would be the first to tell us speculating on Wada’s role is getting too far ahead of ourselves, but it will be interesting to see whether the Orioles deem him worthy of a rotation spot or would try to figure out a way to use him in a bullpen that already includes lefties Brian Matusz, Troy Patton, and T.J. McFarland.

Of course, Wada needs to continue to show his surgically-repaired elbow is sound while pitching effectively on his rehab assignment.

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The news wasn’t good for Orioles pitcher Wei-Yin Chen on Monday as the left-hander is on his way to the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique.

Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette told multiple reporters the injury suffered in Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Twins is indeed an oblique injury that will sideline him for the foreseeable future. Manager Buck Showalter had expressed hope following Sunday’s game that it was just a cramp.

Chen was seen holding his right side after recording the final out of the fifth inning and was replaced by right-hander Tommy Hunter in the sixth inning. The Taiwanese southpaw pitched five shutout innings and was lifted after throwing just 73 pitches.

He was re-evaluated on Monday, which was the first of two days off for the Orioles this week. The injury leaves Baltimore with just three healthy starters in their current rotation and will force Showalter and Duquette to once again look to the minor leagues for starter help.

Oblique strains typically lead to longer DL stints than the 15-day minimum and can flare up easily if a pitcher tries to return too early.

Already dealing with starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day DL due to a blister on his right thumb, the Orioles can make it to Saturday before needing an additional starter behind Chris Tillman, Jason Hammel, and Freddy Garcia. Right-handed pitcher Jair Jurrjens started for Triple-A Norfolk on Monday — allowing five earned runs in seven innings of work — and would be working on regular rest for a potential promotion to make Saturday’s start in Baltimore.

The club could also turn to right-hander Steve Johnson, who would be eligible to be recalled prior to the end of the normal 10-day waiting period if he were to take Chen’s spot because of an injury. Johnson was optioned back to Norfolk following his rough start in Minnesota on Saturday night.

The Orioles hope to see Gonzalez make a rehab start later this week, but a scheduled bullpen session at Target Field this weekend was pushed back to give his blister more time to heal. Gonzalez is eligible to return from the DL next Sunday, but it’s looking more like he’ll need at least an extra day or two after that before rejoining the Baltimore rotation and that’s assuming there are no more setbacks.

In addition to Chen’s oblique strain, Norfolk right-hander Jake Arrieta was scratched from Sunday’s start due to right shoulder tenderness. According to Showalter, Arrieta’s shoulder has bothered him for a few days and it remains unclear whether he’ll simply be pushed back a few days or skipped in the Tides rotation altogether. Concern doesn’t appear to be too high at this point, but shoulder soreness for a pitcher is clearly something a club never wants to hear.

Showalter told reporters prior to Sunday’s game that the club was considering recalling Arrieta instead of left-hander Mike Belfiore for extra bullpen help after starters pitched just 13 innings in Minnesota, but Arrieta’s tender shoulder changed that plan.

Belfiore was optioned back to Norfolk on Monday afternoon, with no corresponding move expected to be made until Tuesday.

The Orioles announced Monday that they have optioned LHP MIKE BELFIORE to Triple-A Norfolk.

Belfiore, 24, was recalled prior to Sunday’s game but did not pitch. Belfiore was 1-0 with a 5.52 ERA (14.2IP, 9ER) and 17 strikeouts in 10 games for the Tides. In 2012, with Double-A Bowie, Belfiore was 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA (47.1IP, 15ER) in 28 games.

A corresponding roster move will be announced Tuesday.

In no particular order, here are the home runs hit against the Orioles that left the worst taste in my mouth.  Feel free to add the ones that stick in your crawl.  Or if you don’t have the stomach…add some of your favorite O’s homers.  Think Tito Landrum!

Wednesday October 10, 2012.  Game 3 ALDS, Yankee Stadium

The Orioles had split the first two games at home and were now looking to put the Yankees on the ropes in a 5-game series.  Leading 2-1 headed into the bottom of the ninth, Buck Showalter went with the proven closer Jim Johnson (who had been lit up for 5 runs in the series opener) over the scorching hot Darren O’Day who had pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning.  Yankees manager went the other way, pulling a struggling star (Alex Rodriquez) in favor of Raul Ibanez with one out.  The second delivery was sent over the right field wall and the Orioles would have to scrap through another extra-inning game if they were to take the lead in the series.

Wednesday October 10, 2012.  Game 3 ALDS, Yankee Stadium

Fast-forward three innings to the bottom of the twelfth.  Ibanez leads off against Brian Matusz who had been throwing well.  First pitch.  Gone.  Upper deck.  Ibanez had done it again.  Two nights later, the Orioles magical 2012 season would end with an uneventful 3-1 loss.  The two homers were crushing but the Orioles bats only mustered 14 hits in the final 30 innings of the series.

Sunday October 3, 1982.  Regular Season finale, Memorial Stadium (attended by me)

Baltimore and Milwaukee entered the final regular season game tied with 94-67 records after the Orioles had swept the first three games of the series.  Momentum had been in the Orioles corner for weeks.  One more win and the Orioles would be advancing to the ALCS.  There was no division series in those days.  Momentum lasted one batter.  Second in the Brewers lineup was Robin Yount who blasted a Jim Palmer offering for a solo homer.  The mood in the stadium changed.  Yount homered again in the third putting Milwaukee on top 3-0.  The Orioles never led in Earl Weaver’s final game, falling 10-2.

Tuesday October 9, 1973. Game 3 ALCS, Oakland Coliseum

With the series tied at one, and switching to the Oakland, the Orioles rode an Earl Williams solo homer into the bottom of the eighth.  Joe Rudi tied it with a two-out hit off of starter Mike Cuellar.  Both Cuellar and A’s starter Ken Holtzman pitched into the 12^th inning, unheard of in today’s baseball.  Unfortunately for the Orioles, Cuellar surrendered a lead-off homer to Bert Campaneris in the twelfth.  Two nights later, the Orioles 1973 season would end with an uneventful 3-0 loss.  Where have I heard that before?

Wednesday October 17, 1979. Game 7 World Series, Memorial Stadium (attended by me)

Leading the game 1-0 in the top of the 6^th on the strength of a Rich Dauer solo homer, the Orioles were looking to avenge the series loss in 1971 to the Pirates.  Willie Stargell had other ideas.  His majestic 2-run shot into the bullpen in right field off Scott McGregor cast a pall over the stadium.  As the outs dwindled, the Pirates scratched out two more runs in the ninth and went on to win the championship.  Stargell was the MVP.

Thursday October 9, 1997. Game 2 ALCS, Oriole Park at Camden Yards (attended by me)

The 98-game winning Orioles seemed poised to take the first two games of the series with Cleveland leading 4-2 in the eighth.  Fire-balling setup man Armando Benitez was tasked with getting the game to the closer Randy Myers.  No one put a ball in play but the go ahead run came to the plate after two strikeouts and two walks.  Marquis Grissom sent a Benitez pitch far into the left field seats giving the Indians a 5-4 lead.  The O’s put a runner on via walk in both the eighth and ninth inning but never moved them along losing the game and eventually the series.

Wednesday October 15, 1997. Game 6 ALCS, Oriole Park at Camden Yards

In a win-or-go-home Game 6 matchup with Cleveland, the Orioles sent ace Mike Mussina to the hill.  He was perfect through four and allowed two hits, three walks and no runs over 10 innings pitched.  Charles Nagy got away with allowing nine hits in 8.2 IP.  Benitez came on again and retired Grissom and Omar Vizquel to start the 11^th inning.  But Tony Fernandez took the first offering over the scoreboard in right to give Cleveland the lead.  After a two-out single in the bottom of the 11^th, Jose Mesa sent the Indians to the World Series by striking out Robbie Alomar.

Wednesday October 9, 1996.  Game 1 ALCS, Yankee Stadium

Leading 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Armando Benitez (really?  The man gave up some bombs) faced a rookie shortstop who batted last in the order.  His name was Derek Jeter.  He lofted the first pitch with one out toward the short porch in right.  Orioles outfielder Tony Tarasco backed up against the wall preparing to snare the ball just below the top of the fence.  He reached up but the ball never came down.  It was corralled from the field of play and into the stands by a young unmentioned Yankee fan.  The umpire missed the interference and allowed the play to stand against the Orioles protest.

And as Forrest Gump would say, “that’s all I got to say about that.”

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During the 2013 season, Drew Forrester and Luke Jones of The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction will provide the “12-Game Scorecard” for the Orioles, rating the club in 12-game increments in a number of categories and looking ahead to how Baltimore will fare over the next dozen games on the schedule.

(Editor’s note: The latest 12-game increment ended on Friday, meaning the final two games of the Minnesota series weren’t considered in this latest scorecard and will be included in the next one.)

To hear the full explanation from Monday morning, click HERE.

1. Should the Orioles have been better or worse than their 7-5 mark?
Drew: Better
Luke: Better

2. Most Valuable Player/Least Valuable Player
Drew: MVP – Manny Machado; LVP – Chris Davis
Luke: MVP – Manny Machado; LVP – Nolan Reimold

3. Biggest surprise
Drew: The continued success of Tommy Hunter
Luke: How successful Manny Machado continues to be at just 20 years old

4. Best thing about the 12-game stretch
Drew: Finishing the long West Coast trip with a 7-4 record
Luke: The emergence of Tommy Hunter, T.J. McFarland, and Pedro Strop as useful options in the bullpen

5. Twelve games from now…
Drew: Chris Davis will have five home runs in the 12-game stretch.
Luke: Ryan Flaherty and Nolan Reimold will no longer be regulars in the everyday lineup.

6. Record in the next 12 games (*1-1 at Minnesota, two vs. San Diego, three vs. Tampa Bay, three vs. New York Yankees, two at Toronto)
Drew: 7-5
Luke: 6-6

7. Stock rising/falling over the next 12 games
Drew: Rising – Chris Davis; Falling – Tommy Hunter
Luke: Rising – Pedro Strop; Falling – Freddy Garcia

8. Grading Buck Showalter in games 25-36
Drew: A
Luke: A-

Here’s what happened down in the Orioles’ farm system on Sunday…

* Jonathan Schoop and Danny Valencia each hit a home run as Triple-A Norfolk routed Syracuse in a 14-1 final

* Zach Clark’s first start using the knuckleball wasn’t pretty as Double-A Bowie dropped a 10-6 final to Erie

* Nick Delmonico’s home run was a lone highlight as Single-A Frederick lost 8-2 to Wilmington

* Adrian Marin doubled and drove in a run despite Single-A Delmarva falling to Hagerstown in a 4-3 final