The Orioles got one encouraging update and one troubling one on Saturday night, with closer Ryan Helsley looking more like a long-term wait than an immediate fix and left-hander Keegan Akin possibly headed for a much bigger problem.
Manager Craig Albernaz said Helsley, who is on the injured list retroactive to June 30, is still dealing with elbow inflammation. The positive part, at least for Baltimore, is that there does not appear to be a ligament tear that would force season-ending surgery. Even so, the reliever’s timeline remains murky after he already missed seven weeks because of the earlier elbow flareup.
“He’s going to stay with us,” Albernaz said, “We’re kind of taking it slow with him and see where he’s at. We have a rehab process.”
Helsley has gone 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA and eight saves in 17 games.
Akin’s situation sounds far more serious. Albernaz said the left-hander will visit elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, and reconstructive surgery is a possibility.
“Akin has a UCL injury…We’ll know more on Tuesday, see what Dr. Meister thinks and go from there,” Albernaz said.
Akin, who also missed the first month of the season with a left groin injury, is 0-1 with a 5.58 ERA in 24 appearances.
Baltimore is also using the All-Star break to take a hard look at its starting rotation. Albernaz said the staff will spend part of the break evaluating the group and possibly reshuffling it for the second half.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to reset the rotation,’’ he said. “See where the guys are at and make the proper adjustments.”
With four days off, the Orioles have options: they can front-load the rotation or give some starters extra rest as they prepare for the final 11 weeks of the season.
The club made one roster move as well, reinstating right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo from the 60-day injured list and optioning him to Triple-A Norfolk. Hiraldo had been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation after posting a 21.60 ERA in three games. The 40-man roster is now full.
Here are the lineups for Saturday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals:
Orioles: Gunnar Henderson SS, Adley Rutschman C, Taylor Ward LF, Pete Alonso 1B, Samuel Basallo DH, Tyler O’Neill RF, Coby Mayo 3B, Jackson Holliday 2B, Leody Taveras CF, Kyle Bradish RHP.
Royals: Carter Jensen C, Bobby Witt Jr. SS, Jac Cagliaone RF, Lane Thomas CF, Vinnie Pasquatino 1B, Salvador Perez DH, Michael Massey 2B, Nick Loftin 3B, Isaac Collins LF, Noah Cameron LHP.
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Orioles Make Troubling Pitching Move As Keegan Akin Situation Deepens
The Orioles added another arm to the organization on Monday, acquiring right-hander Cam Sanders from the Pirates for cash considerations and sending him to Triple-A Norfolk. Sanders had been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, and Baltimore is giving itself a little extra depth in the system at a time when the pitching staff is getting stretched.
The more pressing issue is Keegan Akin, who was moved to the 60-day injured list because of an elbow injury. He is scheduled for a medical evaluation that will help determine the next step, and for an Orioles club already trying to manage its pitching depth, the situation adds another layer of uncertainty to a bullpen that could use some stability. [Read more 🡒]
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Orioles Fans Have Seen This Mike Elias Pattern Far Too Often
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The larger concern is not just where this season sits now, but how closely it fits the pattern that has followed Elias from the start. Baltimore has not finished a year with more than 78 wins under his watch, and even with the organization trying to build around a young core, the margin for error keeps shrinking as injuries pile up and the standings tighten. [Read more 🡒]