Ryan Helsley landed on the injured list Friday, just hours before the Orioles were set to face the Reds in Cincinnati. The right-handed reliever is dealing with right elbow discomfort, and the move is retroactive to June 30.
Helsley had been a reliable arm out of the Baltimore bullpen this season, posting a 3.12 ERA with 12 saves in 14 opportunities. Losing him now, even for a short stint, puts more pressure on a relief corps that’s already been stretched thin by earlier injuries.
The Orioles didn’t hold a press conference or issue a detailed statement beyond the standard IL listing. That’s not unusual, but it also leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Is this something that’s been bothering him for a while? Did it pop up during warmups? The team hasn’t said, and it probably won’t until absolutely necessary.
Roster moves behind the IL move
To fill the spots, Baltimore recalled infielder/outfielder Jeremiah Jackson and right-handed pitcher Anthony Nunez from Triple-A. Catcher Chadwick Tromp was designated for assignment to clear room.
Jackson has been swinging a hot bat in the minors, slashing .291 with 14 homers. He’ll likely get some run at second base or in the outfield while he’s up. Nunez had a 4.30 ERA in Triple-A but the Orioles like his fastball command out of the ‘pen.
Tromp’s DFA is a bit of a surprise. He’d been the third catcher and wasn’t getting much playing time, but the front office clearly wanted flexibility rather than a backup catcher hanging around on the 40-man roster.
What this means for the bullpen
Without Helsley, the closing duties fall to whoever is hottest that night. Manager Brandon Hyde has used a mix of arms in high-leverage spots all year. Expect to see Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe getting more ninth-inning opportunities. Neither has been lights-out lately, but they’ve both got the stuff for it.
It’s also worth noting that Orioles have a tough stretch coming up. After the Reds series, they head to New York to face the Yankees. Not having your primary closer for that Yankees series is less than ideal.
Helsley’s timeline is unclear right now. Fifteen days is the minimum, but elbow stuff can linger. The team will probably be cautious. Baltimore is in a tight division race, and every win matters. That said, rushing a pitcher back with elbow discomfort is how you lose him for the season.
Leave a Comment