The Orioles have placed 35-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain. Millwood has started 18 games for the Orioles this season and he is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He has given up 135 hits (20 homers) in only 107 2/3 innings this season for the O’s as he has been throwing batting practice. The Orioles have activated 25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Felix Pie who will be the starting LF going forward for the O’s. Pie has played in 8 games for the O’s this season and he is 8 of 20 (.400 avg, 1.105 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 1 RBI. He played in 11 games on his rehab assignment in Rookie+A+AA-ball in which he was 14 of 43 (.326 avg, .827 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

The Orioles have sent 24-year old righty Brad Bergesen to the bullpen to make room in the rotation for Jake Arrieta who is being called up to take his spot. Bergesen has started 10 games for the O’s this year and he is 3-4 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. He has given up 71 hits (8 homers) and walked 18 batters in 50 2/3 innings this season which is pathetic. The Orioles are hoping that shorter stints on the mound will give Bergesen better results like he had last year. Bergesen pitched in 19 games (all starts) for the Orioles last season and he was 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.

The Orioles have demoted righty reliever Jim Johnson to AAA to make room on the roster for righty starting pitcher Brad Bergesen. Johnson has pitched in 10 games for the Orioles this season and he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 6.52 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. He has given up 15 hits in 9 2/3 innings while whiffing 9 batters for the O’s so far this season. There is little doubt that Johnson will get called back up if he gets back on track. The Orioles should have had more patience with Johnson who has pitched pretty well the last couple of years for them.

UPDATE: (5/9/2010) - The Orioles are going to send Johnson to Alabama to see Dr. James Andrews about his right elbow which is throbbing after his first appearance in AAA. He worked a scoreless inning allowing 1 hit before leaving the game. This could be a blow to the Orioles who just sent Johnson down to AAA to get his head on straight.

UPDATE II: (5/13/2010) - Jim Johnson will miss at least the next 8-10 weeks has he tries to rehab his aching right elbow. If he isn’t successful he will likely need Tommy John Surgery.

The Orioles have demoted 24-year old righty starter Brad Bergeson to AAA and he certainly deserved to go. Bergeson has started 3 games this season for the Orioles and he is 0-2 with a 12.19 ERA and a 2.61 WHIP. He gave up 21 hits (4 homers) and he walked 6 batters in only 10 1/3 innings for the O’s which is stunning. 26-year old righty Jason Berken will likely come out of the pen to replace Bergeson in the starting rotation. Berken has pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the O’s so far this season and he is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He has only given up 9 hits while walking 2 batters in 12 innings pitched. Berken struggled last season as a starter in his rookie season for the O’s who hope that he has learned from his mistakes.

The Orioles will replace Mike Gonzalez as the closer for the time being until he can work out a few kinks in his delivery. Gonzalez has pitched in 3 games for the Orioles this season and he is 0-2 with 1 save, a 18.00 ERA and a 4.50 WHIP. Gonzalez has already cost the Orioles a couple of games that they should have won and they can’t afford to do that anymore. Jim Johnson will close until Gonzalez gets his act together. Johnson has pitched in 3 games for the Orioles this season and he is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. He didn’t take well to the closer’s job last season after the Orioles trade George Sherrill to the Dodgers so they better hope he steps up this time around.