BALTIMORE -- Another slot in the Orioles starting rotation has opened. The team is moving struggling right-hander Jorge López to the bullpen, effective immediately, manager Brandon Hyde announced Saturday.

“I just think he needs to try something different, a little bit,” Hyde said. “We’re not closing the door on him from being in the rotation, but I’d like to see what it looks like coming out of the bullpen. ... This might take a little bit of pressure off of him."

The decision comes after López struggled to complete two innings against the Rays on Thursday, his velocity and command fluctuating significantly during the outing. López is 3-14 with 6.35 ERA in 25 starts. That's the most losses and the highest ERA in the Majors among pitchers with at least 100 innings this season.

Off the field, López has had a difficult time. His young son underwent chemotherapy and bone marrow treatments this summer. The right-hander, 28, is eligible for arbitration for the first time in the offseason.

“Nobody wants to be in this spot, I promise that,” López said after his start Thursday. “I've just got to keep my head up and keep looking forward. That’s all I can do. Just stay strong.”

It’s unclear how the Orioles will fill López's rotation spot, with Bruce Zimmermann not guaranteed to return this season due to a severely sprained ankle. The current bullpen is short on internal candidates, aside from right-hander Chris Ellis, whom they claimed off waivers from the Rays on Friday. He reported to the team Saturday. The Orioles could also bring back Dean Kremer or Alexander Wells from Triple-A Norfolk, or summon left-hander Ryan Hartman or prospects Mike Baumann or Kyle Bradish from Norfolk.

All but Wells would be lined up to make what would have been López's next start on Wednesday, when the Orioles face the Angels and Shohei Ohtani. Wells started Saturday night for Norfolk against Charlotte. Baumann is also not a likely option, after he threw 39 pitches in a limited, one-inning start Wednesday. Kremer followed with three innings of scoreless relief that night; his ERA at Norfolk is 5.95 and he last completed five innings July 13. Baltimore has used 13 starters this season.