Baltimore Orioles place SP Miguel Gonzalez on 15-day DL

May 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles have placed starter Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique on Friday, per a team announcement.

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The move, retroactive to May 31, means Gonzalez will miss his scheduled start against the Oakland A’s this Saturday, but could be available as soon as next Sunday.

The results of an MRI performed Wednesday on the right-hander’s right side were better than the club expected, but still not enough to warrant risking him starting another game without further rest. Gonzalez was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday against the Texas Rangers.

“He’s improved, but the problem is he hasn’t picked up a ball,” said O’s manager Buck Showalter. “We can’t take the chance of him going out there and then in the first inning having a problem with it.”

Oblique strains are troublesome and painful injuries, particularly to a pitcher, that have been known to sideline players for months at a time.

The 30-year-old Gonzalez is 3-4 with a 4.17 ERA in 11 appearances this season. He was experiencing discomfort in his right side after his last start in Houston on May 30, when he allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings. He has four straight quality starts for the Orioles, sporting a 2.60 ERA in 27 2/3 innings in that span, including a two-inning relief appearance against the Detroit Tigers on May 14.

In another roster move today, the Orioles optioned Preston Guilmet Triple-A Norfolk.