Bleier (lat strain) not expected back this season
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BALTIMORE -- Richard Bleier is not expected to pitch again for the Orioles this season with the expectation that the lefty, who was placed on the disabled list Friday (retroactive to Thursday) with a left lat strain, will likely opt to undergo surgery.
Bleier exited Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in obvious pain and the severity of the injury will determine how long he will be sidelined. Bleier's Spring Training readiness could also be in jeopardy.
"It breaks my heart," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Bleier, who had been one of the team's bright spots this season and is waiting on a second opinion before deciding an ultimate course of action.
The 31-year-old Bleier pitched to a 1.93 ERA in 32 2/3 innings over 31 appearances this year. In Bleier's spot, the Orioles recalled lefty Tanner Scott, who recorded two outs in Baltimore's 2-0 loss to the Marlins on Friday, from Triple-A Norfolk. Scott has made 14 relief appearances for the big league club this season, with a 4.76 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17 innings.
Father's Day details
Major League Baseball teams will do their part to help the fight against prostate cancer, raising funds and awareness for the disease -- and other important initiatives -- leading up to Father's Day.
The O's, amid the popular "Have A Catch" campaign, will again host Father's Day Catch on the Field, presented by Pennington Grass Seed. The sold-out charitable event offers fans an opportunity to enjoy a Father's Day catch in the Oriole Park outfield prior to Sunday's series finale against the Miami Marlins at 1:05 p.m. ET. Last year, the program raised more than $20,000 for the Orioles Charitable Foundation.
MLB's effort also includes the annual Prostate Cancer Foundation "Home Run Challenge," which has given fans the chance to make a one-time monetary donation or pledge for every home run hit by their favorite team from June 1 through Father's Day, all the while tracking where their team stacks up in a "Team vs. Team" competition. Every dollar donated through the Home Run Challenge goes to PCF to fund critical research to defeat prostate cancer.
As of Friday, more than $1.85 million has been pledged via the Home Run Challenge this year. Since its inception, the Home Run Challenge has raised nearly $50 million for PCF, the world's leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating prostate cancer research.