masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBrian Matusz said he could have started tonight for the Orioles, but the decision has been made to push his start back now to Friday night in Atlanta. Matusz suffered a nose contusion yesterday here when he tried a bunt a ball and it hit him in the nose.

“Yeah, pushed back to Friday,” Matusz said. “I woke up this morning and felt good. I feel good enough to go, but just talked with Buck (Showalter) and we feel like it was best to give me a couple of extra days and I feel like I should be…Brian Matusz said he could have started tonight for the Orioles, but the decision has been made to push his start back now to Friday night in Atlanta. Matusz suffered a nose contusion yesterday here when he tried a bunt a ball and it hit him in the nose.

“Yeah, pushed back to Friday,” Matusz said. “I woke up this morning and felt good. I feel good enough to go, but just talked with Buck (Showalter) and we feel like it was best to give me a couple of extra days and I feel like I should be fine for Friday.”

He said he felt like he would have been fine to pitch tonight if that decision had been made.

“Yeah, absolutely. I feel fine. There is a little bit of pain there, but I’ve been doing activities and I feel fine,” he said.

Yesterday Showalter expressed concern as to whether the nose contusion would impact Matusz’s breathing.

“It’s not an issue,” Matusz said. “I can breathe just fine. I slept really well last night and feel 100 percent. Initially, I was unsure. I was bleeding pretty good. Until I got checked, wasn’t sure (if I would be fine).”