While warming up for an appearance in the ninth inning, Ryan Helsley stopped throwing, with this note on X by Jake Rill:
He has already missed time this season and may be headed back to the injured list, at a time when the Orioles need it least. Here is the follow-up with quotes from the manager, Craig Albernaz:
Even if it is precautionary, shutting him down through the All-Star break makes sense. Through his first five games back from the injured list, he’s allowed six runs (four earned) while giving up six hits, three of which were home runs, while recording six strikeouts against two walks across 4.2 innings.
If he is placed on the injured list, it’s anticipated that a matchup-based approach may be used, with Andrew Kittredge as the preferred save option. He has been scoreless in eight of his last nine appearances, including today’s, posting a 0.955 WHIP with six strikeouts against two walks. There is nothing official, and Helsley may undergo imaging before a decision is made. Until then:
Projected Hierarchy: *Andrew Kittredge | *Tyler Wells | Yennier Cano
*= closer-by-committee