Orioles closer Ryan Helsley has inflammation in his right elbow around the ulnar collateral ligament. He will rehab with the club.

Manager Craig Albernaz said Helsley doesn’t have a tear in the UCL. For now, surgery isn’t on the table.

“Just taking it slow with him and seeing where he’s at through the rehab process,” Albernaz said.

Helsley missed seven weeks earlier this season with a sore elbow. He’s registered a 4.11 ERA with eight saves in 17 appearances since signing a two-year, $28 million contract with an opt-out clause.

Helsley’s last appearance was June 27 against the Nationals. He warmed in the bullpen on July 1 and sat down because of the discomfort, rubbing his forearm and flexing his hand.

Treatment for the first injury included anti-inflammatory medication before Helsley made two rehab appearances for Triple-A Norfolk.

“He’s in good spirits, as he could be,” Albernaz said. “Obviously, he wants to be out there pitching with us and he understands when he’s not out there, it’s a whole different look in the bullpen, and he wants to be out there competing with us and with the boys. But yeah, it’s just one of those things where he has to get ahead of. You don’t want something really drastic to happen.

“Hopefully, this kind of gets the right process in place and rehab and kind of see where we’re at.”

The bullpen also is missing left-hander Keegan Akin, who has a UCL injury and will be examined Tuesday by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas.

Akin’s situation appears to be more serious.

Asked whether Akin could undergo surgery next week, Albernaz replied, “We’ll know more on Tuesday, what Dr. Meister thinks and go from there.”

Akin appeared in 24 games and registered a 5.68 ERA. He began the season on the injured list with a groin strain.

The Orioles selected North Carolina State outfielder Ty Head with the 46th-overall pick in the draft.

MLB Pipeline ranked Head, 21, as the No. 60 prospect. He’s another left-handed hitting center field after the Orioles selected Eric Booth Jr. in the first round.

Head batted .291/.460/.556 this season with eight doubles, 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, 57 walks, 23 strikeouts and 26 stolen bases in 29 attempts over 56 games. He posted a .283 average and .928 OPS in 112 college games.

Meanwhile, Coby Mayo is playing third base tonight and Jackson Holliday is at second base against Royals left-hander Noah Cameron. Samuel Basallo is the designated hitter.

Blaze Alexander moves to the bench.

Since May 1, Alexander’s .357 batting average is the highest in the majors in a minimum 150 at-bats. He’s hitting 365 (19-for-52) with five doubles, two triples, one home run and 25 RBIs with runners in scoring position.

Gunnar Henderson stays atop the order, with Taylor Ward hitting third. Tyler O’Neill is in right field. Leody Taveras is in center.

Henderson had an RBI single last night on a 1-1 count in the second inning. Henderson is hitting .408 on the first pitch this season, but his average tumbles to .097 with two strikes.

Ward hit 15 of his 36 home runs at home last season with the Angels. He hasn’t homered at Camden Yards this season in 51 games.

Kyle Bradish has registered a 3.75 ERA in 18 starts. He has a 2.31 ERA in his last four games.

Bradish faced the Royals earlier this season in Kansas City, his only career start against them, and allowed one run and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Orioles’ rotation has posted a 3.66 ERA in 45 games since May 20, fourth best in the American League and seventh in the majors.

Jeremiah Jackson took ground balls at third base today before batting practice. He’s played second base and the corner outfield this season.

Cameron, who finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025, has posted a 4.77 ERA in 17 starts. Left-handers are hitting .299/.351/.494 against him, and right-handers are hitting .270/.328/.419.

Cameron hasn’t faced the Orioles.

The Orioles are 11-17 against left-handed starters, though they had to rally against the Cubs’ bullpen to win Thursday afternoon.

Jac Caglianone is hitting .321 with a .538 slugging percentage against off-speed pitches in 2026. He posted a .145 average and .273 slugging against that pitch type in 2025.

The Royals have a .253 average with runners in scoring position and two outs, which ranks second in majors behind the Rays’ .259. The Orioles rank 22nd with a .217 average.

For the Orioles
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Taylor Ward LF
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo DH
Tyler O’Neill RF
Coby Mayo 3B
Jackson Holliday 2B
Leody Taveras CF

Kyle Bradish RHP

For the Royals
Carter Jensen C
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Jac Caglianone RF
Lane Thomas CF
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B
Salvador Perez DH
Michael Massey 2B
Nick Loftin 3B
Isaac Collins LF

Noah Cameron LHP

*The Orioles picked again in the third round and used the 82nd-overall selection on University of Kansas right-hander Dominic Voegele.

Voegele, 21, was the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2024 and pitched for the U.S. collegiate national team that summer. The Diamondbacks drafted him in the 20th round in 2023.

Voegele set a school record with 120 strikeouts in 97 innings this spring, but he posted a 5.85 ERA in 17 starts. He had a 5.22 ERA in three seasons totaling 48 starts.

The fastball can touch 98 mph but usually sits at 93-96.