BALTIMORE—The Orioles placed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation before Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. The move is retroactive to Sunday.
Coulombe is 1-0 with a 2.42 earned-run average with a save in 29 games. He’s struck out 28 batters, walked just three and hasn’t allowed any of his 13 inherited runners to score.
“He played catch yesterday before the game and just felt a little sore,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s going to get further tests done and we’re hoping for the best
“It was ‘after he pitched’ soreness. Yesterday when he played catch he felt something not right with the elbow, so we put him on the IL, and hoping for the best there.
“He’s been crucial for our bullpen. He’s been one of the best relievers in the game, really. He fills in all kinds of spots for us. Hopefully, we can right the ship until he’s back. He’s had a heck of a year so far.”
Last season, Coulombe had a stint on the injured list in August with left biceps tendinitis.
The Orioles have just two left-handers, Keegan Akin and Cionel Pérez, in the bullpen. They also have just seven relievers, and Hyde thinks that Pérez and Jacob Webb could slip into the spots where he used Coulombe.
The Orioles activated infielder infielder Jorge Mateo from the 7-day concussion injured list. Mateo suffered the injury on June 2nd when he was hit on the back of the batting helmet by a swing from Cedric Mullins when the two were in the on-deck circle.
Mateo is hitting .244 with three home runs and 13 RBIs with 10 steals in 11 attempts. He’s playing shortstop on Tuesday because Gunnar Henderson is getting his first game off the season. Hyde said it was a planned day off.
Infielder Connor Norby was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Norby replaced Mateo on the active roster. He was 3-for-14 (.214) with a home run and two RBIs.
The Orioles also recalled right-hander Bryan Baker from Norfolk.