Wieters to DL

BALTIMORE– The Orioles placed catcher Matt Wieters on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring on Thursday, a move that is retroactive to July 10.

Wieters came out of Friday’s game in Texas after stumbling around second base, and did not play the rest of the weekend. Interim manager Juan Samuel told reporters in Arlington that the organization hoped the four days during the All-Star break was enough to quell the recurring injury, which Wieters tweaked the prior series in Detroit.

Now, it appears Wieters will need more time, making backup catcher Craig Tatum the likely choice to assume the bulk of playing time behind the plate.  The O’s recent trade for utility man Jake Fox, who can also catch, will help spell Tatum if needed.

Still, the injury to Wieters is a big blow for an-already beleaguered Baltimore club. The 24-year-old switch-hitter was a mainstay in the Orioles lineup and was batting.245 (66-for-269) with six home runs and 29 RBIs in 77 games. Wieters’ defense has been much improved under the tutelage of new bench coach Jeff Datz and he was beginning to put it together at the plate, posting a .313 average in his last 10 games.

Baltimore will announce a corresponding roster move prior to Friday’s series opener against Toronto.