by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) The Orioles optioned starter Zach Britton back to Triple-A Norfolk Tuesday, MLB.com reports. Britton started Monday for the Orioles against the Mariners and suffered the loss.
Britton allowed six runs on 10 hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two. Britton will return to the Tides' rotation.
Zach Britton struggles in season debut
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) Orioles starter Zach Britton didn't pitch well in his call up from Triple-A Monday in Seattle. Britton got his pitch count up early and was down from his second pitch.
Starting in the vacated No. 5 spot in the rotation, Britton gave up a solo homer to leadoff batter Michael Saunders and things didn't get much better. He was even hurt by the umpire.
Home plate umpire Alan Porter threw a ball back to Britton when he wasn't looking in the bottom of the sixth after a base hit, and it hit him right on his pitching arm. He appeared to be in pain but remained in the game. Britton then gave up three more runs before finishing out the inning and his outing.
Britton took the loss as he allowed six runs on 10 hits and two walks over six frames. He threw 101 pitches and 60 went for strikes. He struck out two.
It is not yet known whether Britton will get another start, though it seems doubtful with other options performing better down in the minors.
Zach Britton all but confirmed for Monday
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Baltimore has listed Zach Britton as the probable starter for Monday against the Mariners, MASNSports.com reports Sunday.
Britton has made two career starts against Seattle and doesn't have a record with a 2.57 ERA. Both of those starts came at Camden Yards.
Britton tossed a shutout against the Mariners in his first start against them on May 12, 2011. The Orioles won 2-1 in 12 innings as Jason Vargas also went nine shutout innings in that game.
Orioles recall Zach Britton
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) The Orioles have recalled pitcher Zach Britton from Triple-A Norfolk Thursday. The 25-year-old could make his first start since Sept. 12, 2012.
Britton went 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in three starts at Triple-A. He is 16-14 with a 4.74 ERA in 40 career appearances (39 starts). Britton could be ready to take the mound Monday at Seattle. He has a 2.57 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in two career starts against the Mariners.
Zach Britton rejoining O's rotation?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Orioles starting pitcher Zach Britton was scratched from his start Thursday for Triple-A Norfolk, according to MASNsports.com. Although no official roster move has been made, Britton being scratched could mean he will start Monday at Seattle after the Orioles optioned Josh Stinson to Norfolk Wednesday.
The Baltimore Sun reports Britton is expected to be promoted to the major-league roster Thursday and be used as a long reliever. If he doesn't pitch before Monday, he could start against Seattle.
Britton, who last made a start in the majors in 2012, is 16-14 with a 4.74 ERA in 40 career appearances (39 starts). He is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in three starts for Norfolk.
Zach Britton, Freddy Garcia options for Wednesday
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) The Orioles need a starter for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays due to the rain out on Friday, MLB.com reports. The starter will likely come from Triple-A Norfolk.
Manager Buck Showalter is leaning toward either Freddy Garcia or Zach Britton, who are both pitching well for the Tides.
Britton is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA over three starts while Garcia is 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA. Josh Stinson is a longer shot for the job, but still a possibility.
Zach Britton returns to Triple-A mound
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) Orioles minor-league starter Zach Britton, who had to leave his last start after just two innings due to a blister on his left thumb, returned to make a start for Triple-A Norfolk Saturday, MASNSports.com reports.
Britton allowed two runs -- one earned -- on six hits over 5 2/3 innings against Gwinnett. He had two strikeouts and threw 50 of his 77 pitches for strikes. He recorded 15 of his 17 outs on ground balls.
The 25-year-old will be a candidate to return to the Orioles rotation, if needed, later in the season.
Zach Britton ready for Saturday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/12/2013) Orioles pitcher Zach Britton, who could not complete his last minor-league start Sunday due to a blister on his thumb, will start Saturday at Triple-A Norfolk, MASN.com reports.
Zach Britton leaves early with blood blister
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/7/2013) Orioles minor-leaguer Zach Britton couldn't pitch through a blood blister Sunday in a start for Triple-A Norfolk. Britton lasted two innings.
Making the start for the Tides in the first game of a doubleheader, Britton allowed a run on two hits and four walks with a strikeout. He threw three wild pitches and was clearly bothered by the blister, reports MLB.com.
Britton threw 54 pitches, of which only 20 were for strikes.
Zach Britton working on finish in minors
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/31/2013) Orioles pitcher Zach Britton, who will begin the year in the minors at Triple-A Norfolk, pitched in a minor league game Sunday and developed a blister, reports MASNSports.com.
Britton, expected to start Norfolk's third game, went four innings and threw more than 60 pitches despite the blister on the side of his thumb. Eventually, the blister popped after Super Glue was applied, the problem was solved.
"I was just trying to get my pitch count up, so I went back out there for another inning," Britton said. "Me and Rick (Peterson) have been doing stuff in the bullpen, so I really wanted to get a good feel for what we were doing. This is the perfect time. I could have kept throwing with (the blister), but there's no reason to at this point. But I wanted to get my pitch count up, because I really haven't gone too many innings this spring overall."
Britton hopes to work on the finish of his delivery while in the minors, a bad habit he said he's developed. "I don't know when it happened, if it was when I was injured or whatever, but just finishing the ball better and getting that sink consistent again," he said.
O's Zach Britton not cut out for rotation
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) The Baltimore Orioles dropped one name from their list of possible rotation candidates on Saturday, reports MLB.com. Zach Britton was cut Saturday and will begin the year in the Triple-A Norfolk rotation.
The 25-year-old Britton went 10 1/3 innings this spring and gave up seven runs, including two homers, with seven strikeouts. He's been impressive at times in the majors, lincluding winning 11 games as a rookie in 2011. He struggled last year and will begin this season in the minors.
Baltimore continues to look for a fifth starter with Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, T.J. McFarland, Steve Johnson and Jair Jurrjens all in the running.
Zach Britton dismantled by Blue Jays in spring outing
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (3/20/2013)Zach Britton allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in 1.2 innings in a horrid Grapefruit League outing Wednesday against Toronto.
Britton served up a home run and a pair of doubles as part of the massacre. He had largely been sharp, entering the game having allowed just two runs on six hits and two walks over 8.2 innings. But he had nothing against the Blue Jays, who ran out a lineup containing few of their best hitters -- Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista were all absent.
Britton is currently locked in a competition for the Orioles' fifth starter job and outings like this will do him no favors in his quest.
Zach Britton helps his cause
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/15/2013) Orioles manager Buck Showalter has a hard decision ahead of him. He has to choose a fifth starter, and has auditioned Jake Arrieta, Steve Johnson, Jair Jurrjens and Brian Matusz for the job. On Friday, it was Zach Britton's turn, and he allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings during Baltimore's 3-3 tie with Boston in a Grapefruit League game. He walked two batters and struck out one while shaving his ERA to 2.08 this spring.
"That's the best he's thrown this spring. That was impressive," Showalter said of Britton. "He's real crisp. It's good to see. Could have gotten deep in the ballgame."
With just over two weeks to make the decision, Showalter isn't giving any insight on the verdict. "I like where we are with our options. It's intriguing," he said.
Britton jockeying for position
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/11/2013) Orioles starting pitcher Zach Britton fired two innings of relief and allowed just one run during Baltimore's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh in A Grapefruit League contest Monday. Britton, considered a candidate for the fifth spot in the team's starting rotation, was the third pitcher used and entered at the beginning of the sixth inning. He permitted only a double as his only hit, while finishing with two strikeouts and no walks.
Britton struggles in the wind
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/6/2013) Orioles left-hander Zach Britton, who is competing for a spot in the starting rotation, wasn't at his best Wednesday against Spain's World Baseball Classic team. With the wind blowing out in Sarasota, Fla., he allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in two innings of relief.
Britton settles down after homer
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/27/2013) Baltimore rotation candidate Zach Britton settled down nicely after allowing a solo homer to Jonny Gomes to open his outing Wednesday against Boston. Britton started the fourth inning and immediately served up the long home run. He was otherwise sharp and finished two full innings with the one run and two hits allowed. Britton did not walk a batter and struck out three in the performance. His ERA on the spring after two appearances is now at 3.00.
Britton scoreless to start spring
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/23/2013) Baltimore rotation candidate Zach Britton got the Grapefruit League season started for the Orioles on Saturday against the Twins. Britton took the mound and pitched one inning. The inning was not clean, as Britton allowed two hits. Still, no runs scored and he gave way to Jake Arrieta in the second.
