Orioles send struggling lefty starter Trevor Rogers to minors

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles sent left-hander Trevor Rogers to the minors Thursday, less than a month after acquiring him in a trade from Miami.

Rogers was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk along with right-hander Colin Selby and infielder Livan Soto . The Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Matt Bowman and recalled left-hander Nick Vespi from Norfolk.

Baltimore was a half-game behind the first-place New York Yankees entering Thursday. The Orioles' pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries to the rotation, and the bullpen has been unreliable of late. Baltimore lost two of three to the Mets in New York, with both defeats coming on ninth-inning home runs.

The Orioles sent Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby to Miami -- two prospects with big league experience -- in exchange for Rogers. The lefty is 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA since joining Baltimore.

The Orioles also designated left-hander Bruce Zimmermann for assignment.