BALTIMORE -- Orioles manager Craig Albernaz provided updates on a pair of relievers with elbow injuries prior to Saturday night's game against the Royals at Camden Yards -- one that was quite positive, while the other was a bit more ominous.
Closer Ryan Helsley has inflammation around his right UCL, but the good news is that the 31-year-old right-hander doesn't have any ligament damage, so he'll be staying with the O's while rehabbing the injury. Meanwhile, left-hander Keegan Akin has a UCL injury and will be meeting with Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
This is the second time this season that Helsley has dealt with inflammation in his right elbow. He was on the injured list from April 29-June 16. Then, he felt discomfort while warming up in Baltimore's bullpen on July 2, leading to him being placed on the IL again the next day (retroactive to June 30).
"Kind of just taking it slow with him and see where he's at through the rehab process," Albernaz said. "He's in good spirits, as he could be. Obviously, he wants to be out there pitching with us, and he understands when he's not out there it's a whole different look in the bullpen. He wants to be out there competing with us and with the boys. It's just one of those things where he has to get ahead of it. You don't want something really drastic to happen. So hopefully, we get the right process in place and rehab and kind of see where we're at."
Helsley signed a two-year, $28 million deal with the O's this past December. He has a 4.11 ERA and eight saves over 17 outings this season, though he recorded a 2.53 ERA in 12 appearances prior to his first IL stint and a 7.71 ERA in five games following his return.
Akin has been on the IL since June 29 (retroactive to June 28), as the 31-year-old southpaw reported soreness coming out of his June 27 outing vs. Washington. He had a 5.68 ERA in 24 games (including two starts as an opener) in his seventh MLB season, all of which have been spent in Baltimore.
Albernaz said the Orioles won't have more information regarding the severity of Akin's UCL injury -- including whether he'll need surgery -- until after his meeting with Meister.