Orioles closer Ryan Helsley lands on injured list, becomes team's 12th player on IL

· Yahoo Sports

Despite a horde of injuries, the Baltimore Orioles are hanging around in the AL East more than a month into their first season under manager Craig Albernaz. They entered a four-game road series against the New York Yankees Friday with a 15-16 record and a third-place standing in the division, five games back of the first-place Yankees.

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But in a season that’s even seen Albernaz weather a broken jaw and several facial fractures, the injury bug keeps biting.

The Orioles announced ahead of their series opener in the Bronx that they’ve placed closer Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday. He’s dealing with right elbow inflammation, according to the Orioles. Right-hander Albert Suárez, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk, will replace Helsley on the 26-man roster.

Baltimore now has 12 players on the IL.

The 31-year-old Helsley is in his first season with the Orioles. He’s coming off a rough 2025 campaign, which he started with the St. Louis Cardinals and ended with the New York Mets after being traded at the deadline; however, just two seasons ago, he was MLB’s saves leader.

Helsley made both of his All-Star appearances with the Cardinals, first in 2022 and then in 2024. He signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the Orioles this past offseason.

Helsley came into Friday tied for fourth in the majors with seven saves this time around. He’s a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities this season and is posting a 2.53 ERA through 10 2/3 innings.

Last week, he was on the bereavement/family medical emergency list. He missed one save opportunity, and that went to rookie right-hander Anthony Nunez, who got the job done in an 8-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on April 22.

In Helsley’s absence, Baltimore’s expected to use multiple arms from an impressive Orioles bullpen to close out games, Nunez among them.

As for Suárez, he could start on Sunday against the Yankees, considering lefty Trevor Rogers is on the 15-day IL with an illness. Rogers and Helsley are part of the dozen Orioles who are sidelined.

The others are starting pitchers Dean Kremer (quad) and Zach Eflin (elbow), first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (foot), second baseman Jackson Holliday (hamate), third baseman Jordan Westburg (elbow), outfielder Heston Kjerstad (hamstring) and relief pitchers Dietrich Enns (foot), Yaramil Hiraldo (shoulder), Colin Selby (shoulder) and Félix Bautista (shoulder).

Unfortunately for Baltimore, this is nothing new. The Orioles used the IL 39 times for 29 players in 2025, per MLB.com.

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