Britton is on board with the plan to move his next start back

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  Steve Melewski

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  June 12, 2011 12:10 pm

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Orioles lefty Zach Britton said it was not unexpected news. He was told today by manager Buck Showalter that his next start will likely be Friday in Washington and not Tuesday in Toronto.

Britton has already pitched 82 innings and the club knew at some point Britton would pitch too many innings this year if he continued to go every fifth day. He pitched 153 innings last year between the minors and majors.

“Obviously I don’t want to skip starts, but I know they are doing it for a good…Orioles lefty Zach Britton said it was not unexpected news. He was told today by manager Buck Showalter that his next start will likely be Friday in Washington and not Tuesday in Toronto.

Britton has already pitched 82 innings and the club knew at some point Britton would pitch too many innings this year if he continued to go every fifth day. He pitched 153 innings last year between the minors and majors.

“Obviously I don’t want to skip starts, but I know they are doing it for a good reason,” Britton said. “It’s not anything other than just trying to get me to (be able to) throw in September and hopefully October if we are in contention. It’s something you have to deal with, I knew it was going to happen and I am not frustrated at all.

“I feel good, I feel strong. I wasn’t expecting them to skip my starts this early. I thought towards the end of next month or beginning of August. It’s their call,” he said.

Britton threw a bullpen session today and will throw another on Tuesday in advance of pitching next likely on Friday in Washington.

“I guess (Buck Showalter) he said I’m on pace to throw way over 200 innings. I knew they weren’t going to let me throw 200 innings no matter how much I beg them. I told them hey, I can do 200 innings. But they are smarter than me when it comes to how your arm feels.

“Talking to Jeremy (Guthrie), he said once you get to that 180, 190, it’s a grind. If you are not used to it yet, it’s tough to think you can push yourself that far,” Britton, who is 6-4 with an ERA of 3.18 in 13 starts, said.