Orioles’ Hyde says Hunter Harvey will miss at least a month, calls Lakins elbow injury significant; Mountcastle voted Rookie of Month

The Orioles placed right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey on the 10-day injured list because of a right lat strain, and manager Brandon Hyde estimated that he would miss at least a month.

Harvey appeared to suffer the injury when he was warming up during Wednesday night’s game at Houston.

“We’re hoping he’s going to miss right around a month,” Hyde said. “That would probably be best-case scenario.”

Hyde also said that reliever Travis Lakins has a significant elbow injury.

Harvey, the Orioles’ No. 1 draft pick in 2013, has had a series of injuries that delayed his major league debut until August 17, 2019. He began this season on the 60-day injured list because of a strained oblique muscle. In nine games, has a 4.15 ERA with six strikeouts and three walks in 8 2/3 innings.

“He went and saw the doctor yesterday,” Hyde said. “A lot of us were expecting worse, to be honest with you, just the way it happened. The last pitch of his warmups to go in the game, and he felt something in his armpit, in the labrum area, came in and got checked out, and saw another team of doctors yesterday … I think we’re fortunate. We’re hoping it’s only a month.”

In parts of three seasons, Harvey is 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA in 26 games.

The Orioles recalled left-hander Zac Lowther from Triple-A Norfolk to replace to replace Harvey.

Lowther is 0-1 with a 15.19 ERA in three games, one start, with the Orioles this season. At Norfolk, Lowther is 0-3 with a 5.18 ERA in six starts.

Lakins, Franco updates: Lakins had further examinations on his right elbow, which forced him to leave Tuesday night’s start in the second inning.

“He got tested again yesterday,” Hyde said. “It’s a significant elbow injury. I’m not sure the timetable on it, but it’s significant.”

Third baseman Maikel Franco suffered a sprained ankle trying to catch the final out in Wednesday night’s game in Houston and isn’t in the lineup for Friday night’s game against the Angels.

“Franco is day-to-day,” Hyde said. “He had an X-ray that came back negative. He had a little bit of a sprain. He had a lot of rehab yesterday and this morning. He’s feeling a lot better. He should be available off the bench. I think we got lucky there.”

Mountcastle earns rookie award: Ryan Mountcastle was named the American League Rookie of the Month for June.

The first baseman/designated hitter batted .312 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs.

“I feel pretty good with how it’s gone so far,” Mountcastle said. “I’ve handled all the different adversity.”

On May 14th, Mountcastle was hitting just .212 with three homers and 12 RBIs.

“That first month-and-a half was tough,” Mountcastle said. “I try to stay confident, know that I was better than what I was playing.”

To be considered a rookie, batters must not exceed 130 at-bats. Last year, Mountcastle fell just four at-bats short. He hit .333 with five homers and 23 RBIs.

“Last year was just different,” Mountcastle said. “It felt like with no fans and everything, like a spring training-type thing, back-field games. Obviously, it’s still the big leagues, but with fans here, definitely it’s a lot different. I think last year’s experience helped me.”

Mountcastle had three home runs on June 19th, joining Nick Markakis as the only Orioles’ rookies with a three-homer game. He homered in three straight games from June 2-5th and had an RBI in eight straight games from May 31-June 9th, matching Carlos Correa for the longest streak in the major leagues this season. He’s the first Oriole rookie to do that.