Orioles Closer Ryan Helsley Faces Elbow Scare Right After a Rare Win

The Baltimore Orioles finally won a game. And then, almost immediately, they got another injury update they didn’t want.

Ryan Helsley, the team’s closer and one of the hardest throwers in the game, was warming up to pitch the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night when he felt something off in his throwing elbow. He never made it to the mound. The Orioles held on for a 6-1 win anyway, but the real concern started after the final out.

According to Andrew Golden of The Baltimore Banner, Helsley is scheduled for a postgame evaluation. Manager Craig Albarnaz didn’t sound optimistic. His level of concern, he said, is high.

This isn’t the first elbow issue for Helsley this year

Helsley already missed all of May and half of June with elbow inflammation. That landed him on the injured list earlier this season. Now, with the same elbow acting up again, it’s fair to wonder if this is something more serious. The team hasn’t confirmed anything beyond the evaluation, but the timing couldn’t be worse.

The Orioles are 40-48 and sitting in fourth place in the AL East, which is arguably the best division in baseball. They can’t afford to lose another key arm. And right now, they’re running out of arms to lose.

Crippled by injuries across the roster

Baltimore’s injury list reads like a nightmare for any front office. Jordan Westburg is out for the season. Felix Bautista, the team’s former closer, will likely miss the entire year as well. Ryan Mountcastle, Zach Eflin, and Chris Bassitt are all on the IL too. That’s three starting position players and their two best relievers, all sidelined.

Helsley has been one of the few consistent bright spots when he’s actually on the mound. He throws gas, he misses bats, and he’s been dependable in high-leverage spots. But if he goes down again, the Orioles bullpen suddenly gets a whole lot thinner. And in a division where the Yankees and Rays are still lurking, depth matters.

The team will likely update Helsley’s status in the next day or two. For now, it’s another waiting game in a season that’s been full of them.