Orioles acquire Joe Gunkel from Red Sox

Orioles acquire Joe Gunkel from Red Sox

The Orioles announced this afternoon that they traded outfielder Alejandro De Aza and cash to the Red Sox for minor league right-hander Joe Gunkel.

Gunkel, 23, is 12-7 with a 3.05 ERA in 54 appearances (20 starts) over three minor league seasons. He's struck out 178 batters over 165 innings.

duquette-showalter-talking-sidebar.jpgGunkel was a combined 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He's a former 18th-round pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of West Chester (Pa.) University.

The Orioles will assign Gunkel to Double-A Bowie.

Here are the starters for the three-game series in Cleveland:

Friday: Chris Tillman (2-7, 5.94 ERA) vs. Shaun Marcum (2-0, 5.94 ERA)
Saturday: Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3, 3.12 ERA) vs. Danny Salazar (5-1, 3.79 ERA)
Sunday: TBA vs. Carlos Carrasco (7-4, 3.92 ERA)

Mike Wright's turn falls on Sunday, but Bud Norris could be inserted after coming off the disabled list.

Norris, pitching today for Triple-A Norfolk, has retired all six batters he's faced in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Matt Wieters has singled and walked.




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