Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez made it through a five-inning minor league rehab start on Saturday at Double-A Bowie and has been cleared to rejoin the major league rotation on Thursday in Boston, per Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore Sun.
Gonzalez has been on the disabled list since June 11 because of a groin strain. The 31-year-old had a solid 3.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 59/24 K/BB ratio over his first 73 innings this season for the O’s.
Baltimore is currently in fourth place in the American League East standings but only 2 1/2 games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. It’s probably going to remain a tight race all summer given the absence of a single dominant team.