Per the Sun,

It appears that the Brian Matusz era in Baltimore will start far earlier than anyone expected.

The Orioles are giving heavy consideration to promoting the 22-year-old Double-A pitcher and having him start on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers in Brad Bergesen's spot in the rotation.

"That is definitely a possibility," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said today. "We've canvassed everybody and it's definitely a possibility."

Matusz, who is scheduled to start for Bowie tonight at New Britain, is 7-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven Double-A starts. In 45 1/3 innings for Bowie, he has allowed just 30 hits and 10 walks while striking out 45. Opponents are hitting just .188 against him.

The left-hander, who the Orioles drafted fourth overall last year out of the University of San Diego, has allowed no runs in four of his seven starts for Bowie. Before his promotion to Double-A, he went 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 11 starts for Single-A Frederick.

Matusz is ranked as the Orioles' third-best prospect by Baseball America. The two guys ahead of him -- catcher Matt Wieters and right-hander Chris Tillman -- have already been promoted this season.

MacPhail said several times this season that Matusz would not make his big-league debut this season, but circumstances have changed drastically due to both injuries and ineffectiveness in the Orioles' rotation. Jeremy Guthrie is the only member of the Opening Day rotation that is still a part of the five-man staff, which is currently manned by three rookies (Tillman, Jason Berken and David Hernandez).

My gut reaction to this is that it's too early.  But look at Matusz' stats - he's actually gotten BETTER since moving to Bowie.  (Remind you of anyone?)  More telling is that the people who have MacPhail's ear are telling him it's not too early to bring him up... hopefully this won't be the wrong move.  I'm a little gun shy, myself. Maybe this is another one of those times where it's best to trust MacPhail to do the right thing.

(FP'd by duck with editing for layout)