Erik

Bedard

The Orioles are not going to allow Bedard, their top prospect, to pitch until the fall Instructional League.

MLB is actually enforcing a roster rule? Well, kind of. They’re not going to make the Orioles forfeit Saturday’s win in which Bedard started. It’s expected that Bedard will be called up again in time to make his scheduled start on Saturday.

He’ll start again tomorrow, putting his back in line for his next start for Baltimore on Saturday the 24th.

Pitching for Sarasota in the Gulf Coast League, Bedard threw 21 pitches, allowing a hit, a walk, and striking out three.

Bedard, the organization’s top pitching prospect, has been impressive in five games with Rookie League Gulf Coast and short-season Single-A Aberdeen. In 15 2/3 innings, he has allowed three earned runs while posting a 24/3 K/BB rate. The Orioles might bring him up later in September as a reliever, and he could compete for a spot in the rotation in spring training.

Matt Riley, Geronimo Gil and Carlos Mendez appear to be sure things to join the Orioles on Sept. 1. Bedard, John Stephens and Sean Douglass are also strong candidates. Bedard would only be used as a reliever if he is added.

Bedard walked four, struck out four, and gave up four singles and a double. Tonight’s outing was his second best since returning from the disabled list on July 18. Hopefully this means Bedard’s knee isn’t bothering him much any longer. He’s certainly worth using against the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Bedard had allowed just one run before giving up a pair of singles to start the eighth. Todd Williams replaced him and immediately gave up a game-tying homer to Casey Blake. Because the offense and bullpen are letting him down, Bedard has one win in seven starts since returning from the DL.

No reason was given for the switch. Bedard is likely to follow Russ Ortiz and Daniel Cabrera in the rotation.

Even with a tired arm, Bedard was still pretty good. The Jays got two of their runs in the third on a grounder that first baseman Fernando Tatis was only able to knock down. The play turned into a rare infield single for Bengie Molina, and Alex Rios was able to come around from second to score. It’s the first time in 13 starts since June 1 that Bedard has given up more than three runs.