Orioles Place Chris Bassitt on Injured List Due to Back Injury

The Baltimore Orioles’ aspirations of reaching the .500 mark took a significant hit on Monday as they placed starting pitcher Chris Bassitt on the 15-day injured list due to a back injury. This setback comes at a crucial time for the team, which has been struggling to find its footing this season.

Bassitt, 37, recently consulted with a back specialist in Baltimore while the team was in Toronto. After rejoining the club, he remained tight-lipped about his condition ahead of the Orioles’ game against the Seattle Mariners at Camden Yards. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz indicated that Bassitt is exploring his options as he navigates this injury, saying, “He’s looking at his options and kind of seeing what his best course of action is.”

In Bassitt’s absence, rookie Trey Gibson was called up to take the mound for Monday’s game. The uncertainty surrounding Bassitt’s return adds another layer of challenge for the Orioles as they aim to stabilize their pitching staff. Signed to a one-year, $18.5 million contract in March, Bassitt has had a mixed season, posting a 4-4 record with a 5.27 ERA over 12 appearances, including 10 starts and two as the “bulk pitcher.”

After a rough start where he recorded a 6.75 ERA in his first five outings, Bassitt has shown signs of improvement, recently delivering two strong performances with six innings pitched and only one earned run allowed. As the team navigates this injury, they will need to rely on their depth and adaptability to stay competitive.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.