The Orioles will lose starting shortstop Cesar Izturis for the next several weeks due to surgery for an appendicitis. Izturis has played in 45 games for the Orioles this season and he is 39 for 150 (.260 avg, .620 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. The Orioles will hand the starting job to Robert Andino while Izturis is out of action. Andino has played in 20 games this season for the Orioles and he is 11 for 43 (.256 avg, .577 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Andino is a good defensive player with a little more power than Izturis but nowhere near his speed.

The Orioles have released lefty reliever Jamie Walker. Walker pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this season and he was 0-0 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. The Orioles have recalled lefty reliever Alberto Castillo to replace Walker in the bullpen. He has pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Castillo pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last season and he was 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. This is a win-win situation as Walker should have no problem getting a new job and Castillo should do a decent job for the Orioles.