The injuries keep piling up for the Orioles. They get back a player and lose someone else.

Closer Ryan Helsley was placed on the 15-day IL this afternoon with right elbow inflammation. The move is retroactive to Wednesday.

In a corresponding roster move, the Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Albert Suárez from Triple-A Norfolk.

The 40-man roster has 39 players. The injured list has increased to 12.

Helsley was reinstated from the family medical emergency list on Sunday. He earned his seventh save Tuesday against the Astros after retiring the side in order.

There were no indications that Helsley was hurting. He’s made 12 appearances and posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.313 WHIP over 10 2/3 innings, with three runs and seven hits allowed, seven walks and 15 strikeouts.

Helsley took the loss in Kansas City on April 21, his first run allowed after six scoreless appearances in a row.

The Orioles signed Helsley to a two-year, $28 million contract on Dec. 1 that included an opt-out clause after the 2026 season. He became the replacement for Félix Bautista, who underwent surgery in August to repair his right labrum and rotator cuff.

Helsley is 7-for-7 in save chances but only four of his appearances have been clean.

Now, he’s out, leaving the Orioles to scramble for closing options in their four-game series against the Yankees and beyond.  

Yennier Cano, Tyler Wells, Andrew Kittredge, Rico Garcia, Anthony Nunez and Keegan Akin could work in a closer-by-committee. Kittredge has 21 career saves. Akin became a substitute closer last summer after Bautista’s injury. Garcia and Nunez earned their first major league saves this season. Wells closed as a Rule 5 pick in 2021.

Cano has 15 career saves but is more effective prior to the ninth inning.

The Orioles lost their Opening Day starter, Trevor Rogers, to the flu. He’s on the 15-day injured list. Three of their starters are out, including Dean Kremer, who has a strained quadriceps, and Zach Eflin, who underwent Tommy John surgery.

Left-hander Dietrich Enns is nearing a return from a left foot infection. He’s on a rehab assignment with Norfolk.

The Helsley injury is the latest challenge for the 15-16 Orioles.

Suárez offers length out of the bullpen but he’s also a candidate to start Sunday, a spot that’s listed as TBA. Kyle Bradish starts on Saturday and Shane Baz on Monday.

The Orioles designated Suárez for assignment on Sunday and he elected free agency rather than accept an outright. The sides reached agreement on another minor league contract that was approved earlier today.

Suárez was en route to Nashville to join the Tides when he was redirected to New York.