Orioles Want Guthrie Back

As much time as we've spent talking about trying to fill out the bottom of the Orioles rotation, little time has been spent talking about the team's de facto ace Jeremy Guthrie.

But with the pitching situation looking bleaker by the day, and Guthrie not figuring to pitch this weekend for Team USA in the WBC, the Orioles are looking to bring their Opening Day starter back to camp, the Sun's Jeff Zrebiec reports.

In two starts for the U.S., Guthrie has a 14.73 ERA, giving up 10 runs (six earned) in less than four total innings of work.

The lack of work is what has Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz especially troubled.

"I have him tentatively penciled in to pitch on [Sunday]. I don't think they really need any starters. In my mind, there is no need for him to be there. He needs to be here and he needs to pitch."

Guthrie admits that he'd like to be with his WBC teammates in Los Angeles for the semifinals but says being with the Orioles instead is akin to "choosing between two things that are good."

In other Orioles news, Nationals beat reporter and blogger extraordinaire Chico Harlan has been covering the O's exhibition game against the Nats so check it out over at Nationals Journal.