masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgUpdating my previous entry on Jason Berken, his MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Baltimore.

He’s been receiving treatment on his right shoulder for most of the season, but the discomfort behind the shoulder apparently has gotten worse.

Manager Buck Showalter watched video of Berken and noticed that the reliever’s mechanics have changed and his pitches aren’t as crisp. Berken isn’t following through on his delivery and appears to be aiming the ball. The issue isn’t a drop in…Updating my previous entry on Jason Berken, his MRI is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Baltimore.

He’s been receiving treatment on his right shoulder for most of the season, but the discomfort behind the shoulder apparently has gotten worse.

Manager Buck Showalter watched video of Berken and noticed that the reliever’s mechanics have changed and his pitches aren’t as crisp. Berken isn’t following through on his delivery and appears to be aiming the ball. The issue isn’t a drop in velocity.

Berken was a starter before 2010. He leads all American League relievers with 62 1/3 innings, and the change in his warm-up routine and the uneven days of rest might have taken a toll.

Meanwhile, Carl Crawford homered off Jake Arrieta in the first inning to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead, but the Orioles tied it on Felix Pie’s sacrifice fly that brought home Luke Scott.

Left-handers were hitting .326 against Arrieta before today, compared to a .183 average for right-handers. Crawford must have seen the stats.

Update: Crawford just singled in the third inning to break the tie. The stats don’t lie.