Orioles closer Ryan Helsley and his sore elbow appear to be back to square one \u2014 and that\u2019s the good news.<\/p>\n
Manager Craig Albernaz said before Saturday night\u2019s game against the Kansas City Royals that Helsley, who is on the injured list retroactive to June 30th, continues to experience elbow inflammation but apparently does not have a ligament tear that would require season-ending surgery. Still, since Helsley missed seven weeks with his earlier elbow flareup, this relapse could keep him out of action well into August or beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to stay with us,\u201d Albernaz said, \u201cWe\u2019re kind of taking it slow with him and see where he\u2019s at. We have a rehab process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Helsley is 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA and eight saves in 17 games.<\/p>\n
The update on left-handed reliever Keegan Akin was more ominous. He\u2019s set to see elbow specialist Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday and could be headed for reconstructive surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cAkin has a UCL injury \u2026 We\u2019ll know more on Tuesday, see what Dr. Meister thinks and go from there,\u201d Albernaz said.<\/p>\n
Akin, who missed the first month of the season with a left groin injury, is 0-1 with a 5.58 ERA in 24 games<\/p>\n
Rotation reboot<\/strong><\/p>\n Albernaz said that he and his pitching staff will spend part of the All-Star break analyzing the starting rotation and \u2013 perhaps \u2013 reordering it for the start of the non-mathematical second half of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity for us to reset the rotation,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cSee where the guys are at and make the proper adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n The four days off affords him the possibility of front-loading the order or using the time to give some of the starters even longer breaks to rest up for the final 11 weeks or the season.<\/p>\n Note:\u00a0<\/strong>Right-handed pitcher Yaramil Hiraldo, who had been on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, was reinstated and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Hiraldo had a 21.60 ERA in three games before his injury. The 40-man\u00a0 roster is now full.<\/p>\n Orioles-Royals lineups<\/strong><\/p>\n Orioles<\/strong><\/p>\n Gunnar Henderson SS<\/p>\n Adley Rutschman C<\/p>\n Taylor Ward\u00a0 LF<\/p>\n Pete Alonso 1B<\/p>\n Samuel Basallo DH<\/p>\n Tyler O\u2019Neill RF<\/p>\n Coby Mayo 3B<\/p>\n Jackson Holliday 2B<\/p>\n Leody Taveras CF<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Kyle Bradish RHP<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Royals<\/strong><\/p>\n Carter Jensen C<\/p>\n Bobby Witt Jr.\u00a0 SS<\/p>\n Jac Cagliaone RF<\/p>\n Lane Thomas CF<\/p>\n Vinnie Pasquatino 1B<\/p>\n Salvador Perez DH<\/p>\n Michael Massey 2B<\/p>\n Nick Loftin 3B<\/p>\n Isaac Collins LF<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Noah Cameron LHP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n