masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles have optioned pitchers Zach Britton and Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk. The corresponding moves will be announced on Wednesday.

Wei-Yin Chen will come off the disabled list and replace Britton in the rotation. The Orioles also will call up a reliever to take Gausman’s spot in the bullpen.

Britton allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings tonight, with three walks and no strikeouts. No matter how the left-hander pitched, he figured to be sent down because his turn…The Orioles have optioned pitchers Zach Britton and Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk. The corresponding moves will be announced on Wednesday.

Wei-Yin Chen will come off the disabled list and replace Britton in the rotation. The Orioles also will call up a reliever to take Gausman’s spot in the bullpen.

Britton allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings tonight, with three walks and no strikeouts. No matter how the left-hander pitched, he figured to be sent down because his turn wouldn’t come up again before the All-Star break.

Britton, 25, is 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA in six starts for the Orioles this season.

Gausman, 22, is 1-3 with a 6.21 ERA in nine games, including five starts. He allowed two runs and two hits, with two walks, in 1 2/3 innings tonight.

The Orioles wanted to put Gausman in Norfolk’s rotation during the break so he wouldn’t remain idle.

The move became necessary because the Orioles are short a long reliever after using Gausman tonight and T.J. McFarland the two previous games.

Jair Jurrjens started tonight for Norfolk and threw 92 pitches. He’s not a consideration. Neither is Josh Stinson, who worked seven innings Saturday.

Mike Belfiore and Tsuyoshi Wada are on the 40-man roster and could provide length, though the Orioles already have three left-handers in the bullpen and Showalter – in a perfect world – would prefer having a right-hander backing up Chen.

Eddie Gamboa, who isn’t on the 40-man roster, is scheduled to make his first start for Norfolk on Wednesday.