It remains to be seen how long the decision lasts, but the Orioles can probably get by with a four-man rotation for the next week or two due to off days. Morton has been shifted to the bullpen after tossing 2 1/3 frames on Tuesday against the Yankees. It’ll be Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Kyle Gibson taking the ball for a three-game series against the Royals that gets underway on Friday.

Morton threw 80 pitches as a bulk guy on Saturday, so this was a big ask from the Orioles, especially given that he’s so completely unaccustomed to relieving. Still, he gave the team some much-needed innings after Kyle Gibson was lit up for nine runs. The outing probably rules him out as a starter Friday, though with off days Thursday and Monday, the Orioles have quite a bit of flexibility for the next several days.

It was Morton’s first relief appearance since his rookie season in 2008. Somewhat surprisingly, the Orioles had him enter mid-inning with two outs in the second. He finished that without incident, but he gave up a walk, a single and a three-run homer in the third. He worked scoreless fourth and fifth innings afterwards and then was lifted with one on and one out in the sixth. The outing actually lowered his ERA to 10.36. Morton will probably either start or again work as a bulk guy Friday against the Royals.

Keegan Akin is starting, and then Morton will work the bulk innings. The 41-year-old has been awful over his last few outings, and Baltimore will hope this gets the right-hander on the right path. If it goes well, don’t be surprised if Morton works in that capacity again next week.