Orioles’ injury update on Helsley, Bautista, Robert, Franklin, O’Neill; Watching Bradish’s innings; O’s-Guardians lineups

BALTIMORE—Left-hander reliever Keegan Akin, who had Tommy John surgery in July, and first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle are spending the Cleveland series with the Orioles.

Mountcastle, who tore an oblique muscle as he was preparing to play in his first rehab game after breaking his right foot in April, has begun swinging a bat but won’t play again this season.

Manager Craig Albernaz said that outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Christian Franklin are in Sarasota rehabbing. Robert is on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Saturday with a left hamstring injury. Franklin is sidelined with left hand inflammation. He’s eligible to return for Friday’s game in Toronto.

Right-hander Ryan Helsley, who hasn’t pitched since June 27^th with a right elbow injury, is scheduled for a live batting practice during this series.

Closer Félix Bautista remains at Triple-A Norfolk on a rehab assignment. He’s recovering from rotator cuff and labrum surgery.

“We’re just listening to him and seeing where he’s at, but there’s no pressure for us,” Albernaz said. “We want to make sure that we’re doing right by him.”

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill is unlikely to return this season. O’Neill’s right shoulder injury is “a pretty significant injury,” Albernaz said. “It’s not responding the way he hoped.”

Bradish update

Starter Kyle Bradish has thrown 152 innings, the most since he threw 168 2/3 innings in 2023. Bradish had Tommy John surgery in June 2024, and threw a combined 71 1/3 innings in 2024 and 2025.

Albernaz said he isn’t concerned about his innings. He was troubled by Bradish’s pitch count on Sunday when he threw 75 pitches in the first three innings and was removed after completing four innings, throwing 85 pitches.

“That was a high workload for those four innings,” Albernaz said. “Moving on from him was the best thing in my eyes, not to push him there. It’s in the back of my mind, but also KB has been feeling great, Velo’s there. He’s bouncing back after each start. Just like with any starter, those high pitch counts in those early innings always have our antenna up.”

Orioles-Guardians lineups

Orioles

Blaze Alexander-RF

Pete Alonso-1B

Jackson Holliday-2B

Coby Mayo-3B

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Christian Encarnacion-Strand-DH

Samuel Basallo-C

Rece Hinds-CF

Dylan Beavers-LF

Trevor Rogers-LHP

Guardians

Steven Kwan-LF

Jo Adell-DH

José Ramírez-3B

Angel Martínez-RF

David Fry-1B

Angel Genao-2B

Austin Hedges-C

Petey Halpin-CF

Brayan Rocchio-SS

Joey Cantillo-LHP

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