NEW YORK—The Orioles placed right-handed closer Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The move is retroactive to April 29th.
Helsley, who signed a one-year, $14 million contract with a $14 million option for 2027, is 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA. He’s converted all seven of his save opportunities.
The Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Albert Suárez from Triple-A Norfolk. Suárez, who passed through outright waivers and declared free agency instead of accepting an assignment to Norfolk, re-signed with the Orioles earlier on Friday and was heading to Nashville to join the Tides. He was rerouted to New York because of Helsley’s injury.
The Orioles are beginning a four-game series against the Yankees on Friday night and will start left-hander Cade Povich, who was recalled from Norfolk. Right-hander Cameron Foster was optioned to Norfolk.
Povich is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two games. Foster had a 5.87 ERA in five games.
The Orioles will start Kyle Bradish on Saturday and Shane Baz on Monday, and haven’t announced a starter for Sunday. That could be Suárez, who was 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA and a save in five games with the Orioles.
Alonso back in New York
While Pete Alonso never played for the Yankees, he played at Yankee Stadium each year when he was a slugging first baseman for the New York Mets.
It’s the first game for Alonso in New York since he signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles last December.
Alonso said he doesn’t keep close tabs on the Mets, who have been a major disappointment this season.
“I’m pretty locked in on the O’s right now,” Alonso said. “I’ve got a job to do every day and these are my teammates … I’m really stoked to be here and represent Baltimore.”
The Orioles enter the four-game series with the Yankees with a 15-16 record.
“Obviously consistency,” Alonso said about the Orioles’ up-and-down play. “You need to pitch, play defense, play clean baseball and then you need to put up runs.
“If we play good efficient baseball and not let mistakes compound, then we’ll be fine. I think we’ve done a good job of handling adversity and bouncing back. I feel like we’re in a good little groove. I feel like we’re going o be able to stack those good days together.”
1st series against Yankees in ‘26
The Orioles open the four-game series at Yankee Stadium trailing New York by five games in the American League East. The Yankees’ 20-11 record is the best record in the American League.
“It’s not four games. We’ve got to play the game today,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “We want to prepare just like we will for any team. That’s the standard we want to hold them to. It doesn’t matter who we play. We’re just going to prepare and go out and compete just like we normally do.”
Orioles-Yankees starting lineups
Orioles
Gunnar Henderson-SS
Taylor Ward-LF
Adley Rutschman-DH
Pete Alonso-1B
Samuel Basallo-C
Dylan Beavers-RF
Leody Taveras-CF
Coby Mayo-3B
Blaze Alexander-2B
Cade Povich-LHP
Yankees
Paul Goldschmidt-1B
Ben Rice-DH
Aaron Judge-RF
Cody Bellinger-LF
Amed Rosario-3B
Jazz Chisholm-2B
José Caballero-SS
Austin Wells-C
Trent Grisham-CF
Will Warren-RHP
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected]