The Orioles placed left-handed starter Wade LeBlanc on the 60-day injured list Tuesday because of an injury to his left elbow.
LeBlanc, who threw 14 pitches in Sunday’s game against the Red Sox, left the game after throwing a pitch to Boston’s fifth batter, Christian Vazquez.
“You just never know when a guy comes off the mound like that,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said in a video conference call. “We were hoping for good news. It was unfortunate to hear that yesterday, and we’re hoping that he recovers well, and we feel like he will.”
The 36-year-old LeBlanc finishes his short stint with the Orioles with a 1-0 record and 8.06 ERA in six starts. The Orioles were the eighth team LeBlanc for which has pitched. His injury was described as a stress reaction.
“It sounds like from our medical guys that he’s going to recover fine,” Hyde said. “I’m sure that Wade wants to play again next year, so I wouldn’t consider it a career-ending injury of any sort, just running out of time this season.”
The Orioles recalled left-handed pitcher Keegan Akin from the alternate training site in Bowie to replace LeBlanc.
Akin allowed three runs in three innings in his only major league appearance on August 14th. The 25-year-old was the Orioles’ second-round draft pick in 2016.
LeBlanc’s turn in the rotation comes up on Saturday when the Orioles play the Toronto Blue Jays in Buffalo. Hyde said that Akin, Thomas Eshelman, who pitched 4 1/3 hitless innings in relief of LeBlanc on Sunday, and Jorge López are candidates to start.
The Orioles have 39 players on their 40-man roster and 57 in their 60-man player pool.
Hyde said that the taxi squad consists of catcher Austin Wynns and right-handed pitchers David Hess, Evan Phillips and Cesar Valdez. Shortstop José Iglesias and reliever Hunter Harvey are traveling on injury rehab.
Iglesias, who has been sidelined with a sore left quadriceps muscle, is eligible to return on Wednesday but Hyde doubts he will.
“I’m assuming probably not tomorrow, but he’s going through his rehab right now,” Hyde said. “We’re hoping to activate him, hopefully. sometime this trip.”
Harvey has yet to pitch this season because of a right forearm strain.
“He’s still progressing in his rehab,” Hyde said. “And we’re hoping like we’ve been saying all along that, hopefully, by the end of the month. The date on that isn’t clear yet. He’s going to continue to throw and continue his rehab assignment here with us.”
Cathcer Pedro Severino, who left Sunday’s game with tightness in his right hip flexor, is not in the lineup for Tuesday’s game at Tampa Bay and is day-to-day.
“We got good news on Sevy,” Hyde said. “He felt a lot better yesterday. He feels even better today. The hip’s just a little bit sore, tight. Hopefully, he’ll be in there the next day or two.”
Centerfielder Austin Hays, who is on the 10-day injured list because of a fractured rib, isn’t on the trip.
“There’s no timeline on him right now,” Hyde said. “He’s still rehabbing the rib injury.”
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OK, I feel terrible for Mr. Leblanc. 36 years old, and a 'stress reaction' in his pitching arm. Very possible the end to his career.
So I'm hoping that K. Akin gets the start this Saturday. Lets see what he's got in the role he's intended for for the remaining month of the year. Serving as a relief pitcher does him and the team a disservice.
Totally agree, I’ve been in athletics for 40 yrs, never heard of a stress reaction...go O’s...
A stress reaction can be considered very similar to a deep bone bruise which arises from a trauma or overuse to a bone. It's considered the early stage just before a stress fracture is the best way to explain it. I heard this from a doctor.
Anyway, I hope this means (not John) that Keagan Akin moves into the Orioles rotation for the rest of this season! And they leave Eshelman in long relief where he's been doing great so far. With 39 guys on the 40 man roster will be interesting to see who gets added. And with rumors running wild on Michael Givens being traded they might have another spot opened. Twins really want him from what I've been hearing.
Thanks, google said the same thing...go O’s...
Stress reaction is what happens to me every time CD steps to the plate. Tough pitcher tonight but I really like our lineup. Let’s see Akin in the rotation , Kremer next. Keep Eshelman in the bullpen he could be our good luck charm after the way he threw last time
LOL...go O’s...
Nice move by the Orioles not putting Ryan Mountcastle in left field in Tampa Bay's dome stadium where fly balls are lost real easily. All the catwalks and such makes it hard on even veteran outfielders! And nice piece of hitting so far by the rookie another hit tonight with an rbi!!!
I think it's probably more likely that Hyde simply wanted to get another left handed stick in Williams in the game vs. having some offensively anemic player like Velasquez or Urias in the lineup. And Williams being a superior fielder, it makes sense that Mountcastle plays DH tonight. But yeah, the roof of the Trop can be challenging I suppose.
Turns out Hyde must have been saving Urias for a clutch pinch hitting option. Hah!
Pinch hit for a guy who has 2 HR against left handed pitchers, again, Hyde takes two steps forward, one backward...go O's...
The other thing I REALLY like about Mountcastle, he looks professional, wears his uniform right, hat straight/Bill a lil curve, no gaudy chains, neat haircut...mom & dad raised him right...go O’s...
He probably has tats in all the wrong places.
Lol...go O’s...