Orioles closer Ryan Helsley appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario regarding his right elbow. Helsley has inflammation around his ulnar collateral ligament, but manager Craig Albernaz said he doesn’t have a tear of the ligament and will go through rehab rather than surgery.

Left-hander Keegan Akin, meanwhile, has a UCL injury that requires an appointment with Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday. When asked if Akin would have surgery Tuesday, Albernaz said the club will know more after that appointment.

This is the second time Helsley has been on the injured list this year with an inflammation-related issue in his elbow. The first time, he missed almost two months from April to June.

He wound up heading back to the injured list July 3. He pitched in only five games before his season was paused again.

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Albernaz said Helsley, who holds a 4.11 ERA with eight saves, will remain with the team as he rehabs his elbow.

“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,” Albernaz said. “It’s just one of those things where he has to get ahead of [it]. You don’t want something really drastic to happen.”

If Helsley’s previous elbow inflammation is anything to go by, he may not return until late August. That is a considerable absence for a team hoping to make a charge up the standings. Without Helsley to close games, Baltimore has relied on right-handers Andrew Kittredge and Tyler Wells in big moments.

Akin’s injury appears to be trending toward a more serious intervention. Akin, who has a 5.68 ERA, is awaiting Meister’s analysis before continuing.