SEATTLE — The Orioles bullpen is about to get stronger.
Closer Ryan Helsley, who dealt with elbow inflammation since late April, is returning to the club ahead of Baltimore’s series against the Seattle Mariners, the team announced.
To make room for Helsley, the Orioles optioned right-hander Anthony Nunez.
Helsley completed two rehab outings for Triple-A Norfolk last week, during which he struck out five batters and allowed one hit in two innings. He only needed 14 pitches each inning. He pounded the strike zone and proved ready for a return to the majors.
“Just pain-free, you know, and making sure I could bounce back, feeling like my normal self,” he said. “Probably take a couple outings or so to feel like that here in the big leagues, you know? You can’t replicate that. But overall, feel really good and just excited to be back up with the team.”
The right-hander, who signed with the Orioles this winter, is an important piece of this bullpen. Before his elbow inflammation, Helsley recorded seven saves with a 2.53 ERA.
Helsley landed on the injured list on May 1 with elbow inflammation, but he avoided a lengthy absence because there was no ligament damage.
Still, he said “the weeks feel like months when you’re in rehab, and it’s really monotonous.”
“Just trying to be patient and trust the staff and knowing they have a good plan for me going forward,” he said.
The bullpen held up without Helsley largely because of right-hander Rico Garcia’s late-game heroics, but lately there have been growing cracks. Monday, Orioles relievers combined for a 4.57 ERA, which ranked 21st in the majors. Garcia has allowed four earned runs in his last four appearances after allowing two in his previous 28 games.
Nunez also picked up late-game opportunities without Helsley there, but the rookie has struggled more of late. Since May, Nunez carries a 7.11 ERA in 19 innings. After making the opening day roster, Nunez hadn’t returned to the minors until now.
“He’s shown extremely well up here what he can do, what he can bring,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “I know our pitching coaches ... have a plan for him to take to Norfolk and work on that so we can get a better version of Nuney. It’s really tough at this level — like we talk about all the time — to develop and get better. So, this will be — not that ‘reset’ is the right word, but a great way to go down to Norfolk and attack things he needs to attack.”
Albernaz said Nunez’s changeup is great, and it’s a pitch he can use against right-handed and left-handed hitters. What is promising, though, is that Nunez showed he could use his sweeper and cutter to lefties, as well.
Albernaz said having Helsley back lengthens the bullpen.
“It kind of sets the rest of the guys up in certain pockets of hitters, and innings as well,” he said, knowing that Helsley can handle the ninth — or what the Orioles deem to be the biggest spot that night.
Helsley’s experience will allow some of those bullpen arms to return to lower-leverage situations. And he is coming back at a critical time, with the Orioles (34-39) beginning a nine-game road trip against the Mariners, Dodgers and Angels.
Nearing returns
The Orioles announced several updates for injured players, including impending rehab assignments for three players.
- Outfielder Dylan Beavers (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Chesapeake on Thursday.
- Right-hander Dean Kremer (quad strain) threw another live bullpen session Tuesday and is tentatively scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk within the week.
- Left-hander Cade Povich, who is dealing with elbow inflammation, also threw a live bullpen Tuesday. He is scheduled to start a rehab assignment in Double-A within the week.
- Right-hander Chris Bassitt, who is on the 15-day injured list for lower back discomfort, received a facet injection to his lower back on Friday. He is continuing a rehab process.
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