masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe blister that first showed up on Miguel Gonzalez’s right thumb two starts ago and forced him out of his last start after just 80 pitches is now sending Gonzalez to the 15-day disabled list.

He was placed on the DL today, retroactive to May 4, and cannot return to the O’s active roster until May 19. Alex Burnett was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and is expected to work out of the bullpen. The O’s will need someone to replace Gonzalez on Saturday at Minnesota.

“We talked about it, Rick…The blister that first showed up on Miguel Gonzalez’s right thumb two starts ago and forced him out of his last start after just 80 pitches is now sending Gonzalez to the 15-day disabled list.

He was placed on the DL today, retroactive to May 4, and cannot return to the O’s active roster until May 19. Alex Burnett was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and is expected to work out of the bullpen. The O’s will need someone to replace Gonzalez on Saturday at Minnesota.

“We talked about it, Rick Adair and Buck (Showalter) and I,” Gonzalez said a few moments ago in the Orioles clubhouse. “We sat together today and we decided to move forward and have me go on the DL. I think that is the best thing we can do for now.

“Rather take one step back now rather than two or three. It is important for me to get healthy and be 100 percent for the next start.”

Despite the DL move, Gonzalez is still expected to throw some here today and take part in a bullpen session Sunday. He could make a minor league injury-rehab start next week, he said.

“They still want me to get that feeling and not stop (throwing). They don’t want me to completely stop or I would not be ready for the next (big league) start,” he said.

“It feels a lot better. Still a little tender but hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday I’ll make my next start either in Bowie or Norfolk.”

Gonzalez is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA over six starts. On Friday at Anaheim, he gave up three runs and six hits over six innings, but the blister began to bleed in his last two innings of that start.