BALTIMORE — Orioles starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie was hospitalized Monday with a fever that could force him to miss his scheduled start Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers.
Guthrie began running a fever on Sunday, and entered the hospital after his temperature increased.
"He's over there now trying to get a grip on what we're dealing with," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said Monday, hours before the home opener against Detroit.
Guthrie remains the projected starter for Wednesday, although that would obviously change if his fever doesn't come down.
"Right now, he's still tentatively scheduled to pitch on Wednesday," Showalter said. "But we'll see what the next couple of days bring. We'll probably make a decision on that [Tuesday].
The Orioles are prepared to use Brad Bergesen if Guthrie is too sick to pitch.
Guthrie (1-0) started on opening day and blanked Tampa Bay for eight innings in a 4-1 victory. He has been one of the Orioles' most sturdy pitchers over the past four seasons, working in 32 games in 2007, 30 in 2008, 33 in 2009 and 32 last year.
Meanwhile, left fielder Luke Scott was kept out of the starting lineup for a second straight day with a strained groin. The injury occurred Saturday night in Tampa Bay.
Asked if Scott was available as a pinch hitter, Showalter said, "I think I could use him if I wanted to take that shot, but we would like to wait until Wednesday."