Jason

Berken

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was told that the session went well. Berken has been sidelined since mid-August with a right forearm strain, but he could be back within the next few days. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 5.80 ERA and 35/17 K/BB ratio over 40 1/3 innings this season.

Berken has yet to make his spring debut due to a left hamstring strain, but he has made steady progress over the past few days. The 28-year-old right-hander still has time to make a late run at a bullpen spot, though he is a candidate to begin the season in the minors since he has an option remaining.

Berken is expected to pitch an inning of relief Thursday in a minor league game. If that goes well, he should be finally cleared for Grapefruit League appearances.

Berken has been nursing a strained left hamstring that he suffered at the beginning of camp. It’s not clear when he’ll be able to throw from a mound, but it’s probably not far off. He’ll have plenty of time to get ready before the start of the season.

He’ll replace Robert Andino, who was placed on the paternity leave list Wednesday. Berken had a 0.60 ERA and 10/4 K/BB ratio over his first 15 innings at the Triple-A level and will pitch in middle relief.

Berken has a 0.60 ERA and 10/4 K/BB ratio in 15 innings over three starts with the Tides. Andino is only expected to miss a couple days, so his stay with the team could be brief.

The severity of the injury isn’t yet known. Berken, 28, posted a 5.36 ERA and 41/21 K/BB ratio over 47 innings as a reliever last season and will be in the mix for a bullpen gig this spring.

Berken, who suffered the injury Thursday, is not working out again Friday, and MASNSports’ Roch Kubatko says the pitcher is a “little worse now than day-to-day.” We’ll continue to monitor his status, but it doesn’t sound like something that will threaten his status for Opening Day unless he aggravates it.

Berken will function as depth for the Orioles bullpen, which was heavily taxed this weekend. The 28-year-old right-hander has posted a solid 1.23 ERA and 15/8 K/BB ratio in 22 innings this season for Norfolk.

The team has yet to make an official roster move, but it appears Jason Berken may be sent down to the minors. Phillips, 25, has a 4.15 ERA and 11/5 K/BB ratio over 13 innings with Triple-A Norfolk this season.