Orioles place Chris Bassitt on 15-day IL with low back discomfort, recall Trey Gibson to start vs. Mariners

Baltimore will lean on rookie starter Trey Gibson as Chris Bassitt’s back sidelines him for at least the next two weeks.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Chris Bassitt on the 15-day injured list on Monday, June 8, retroactive to Friday, June 5, with low back discomfort. In a corresponding move, the club recalled right-hander Trey Gibson from Triple-A Norfolk and slotted him into the starting role for Monday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

Orioles officials tied the IL move to Bassitt’s most recent start. In a Wednesday start against the Boston Red Sox, Bassitt moved through the first two innings on 20 pitches before laboring in the third and exiting the game early with what was described as a back injury. Albert Suárez took over in the fourth of an 8-1 loss, leaving Baltimore to sort out the back issue before Monday’s rotation decision.

Manager Craig Albernaz said Monday that the club does not yet know whether Bassitt will be ready at the earliest point of eligibility. Bassitt is eligible to return on June 20, but Albernaz emphasized that the timeline depends on what the back allows day to day, saying it was “too soon to know right now.”

The decision is a significant one for Baltimore’s rotation because it removes a veteran who has been a steady presence when healthy. In his first season with the Orioles, Bassitt, 37, has posted a 5.27 ERA across 12 outings, including 10 starts. With another scheduled opportunity arriving on the calendar in mid-June, Baltimore’s immediate focus becomes stabilizing the rotation while the medical picture clears.

Gibson’s recall puts a new arm into the rotation conversation. The Orioles will now need him to hold down innings and give the bullpen a chance to operate in normal workloads during the span when Bassitt is expected to remain out. For Gibson, it is a practical, immediate test, not a speculative audition, because the Orioles are already arranging the next set of turn lengths around his start.

The Orioles’ lineup construction has also had to account for more than just the pitching staff. On Monday, catcher Samuel Basallo was out of the lineup with a wrist issue, and manager Craig Albernaz indicated the situation was not viewed as serious, though it has affected Basallo’s availability at times this past stretch.

What to watch next is how the Orioles handle Bassitt’s progression from treatment to throwing. If the back discomfort resolves on schedule, June 20 could arrive quickly. If not, Baltimore may find itself needing to keep expanding the rotation mix beyond Gibson’s initial run, with the knock-on effect being less margin for error in a season where every start from the back end of the pitching staff matters.

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Why It Matters

Bassitt’s absence forces a quick adjustment to the Orioles’ rotation plans and increases the workload expectations placed on Gibson and the rest of the pitching depth.
The earliest return window is June 20, so the next two weeks effectively become a short deadline for Baltimore to get clarity on the back issue.
How well Baltimore manages innings and rest during Bassitt’s absence could influence results in the AL East race, where small gaps can widen quickly.
For Gibson, the move turns the next start into a real opportunity to prove he can absorb a starter’s role at the major league level.

Sources

Key Facts

The Orioles placed right-hander Chris Bassitt on the 15-day injured list on Monday, June 8, retroactive to June 5.
The injury description from Major League Baseball is low back discomfort.
In the corresponding move, Baltimore recalled right-hander Trey Gibson from Triple-A Norfolk.
Gibson will start Monday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
Manager Craig Albernaz said it is too soon to know if Bassitt can return when first eligible on June 20.
In his first Baltimore season, Bassitt is 5.27 ERA in 12 outings (10 starts).