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Orioles place Zach Britton on DL

By Mason Paulus

Apr 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) throws a pitch in the ninth inning during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Baltimore Orioles won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Zach Britton (53) throws a pitch in the ninth inning during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Baltimore Orioles won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles got off to a hot 8-3 start this season, but will have to carry this momentum into May without the help of All-Star closer Zach Britton.

Prior to Sunday’s 11-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles received bad news regarding their All-Star closer Zach Britton. Buck Showalter announced that Britton was headed to the 10-day DL with a left forearm strain.

Prior to the injury, the two-time All-Star closer had been his normal self. This season Britton has appeared in 6 games and compiled a 1.29 earned run average (ERA) accompanied by a 2/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Britton reportedly first felt tightness in his pedestrian inning of work on Friday night in Toronto.

The left-hander was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Weatherford High-School. Britton, a former starting pitcher, has successfully transitioned himself into one of the best closers in baseball.

Coming into the 2017 season, Britton had successfully converted an MLB-high 49 straight save opportunities. This season Britton has extended that total to 54. He is currently tied with Tom Gordon for the second-longest save streak in MLB history. The MLB record is held by former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, at 84.

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Forearm issues are common with pitchers and can have lingering affects. However, Showalter seemed confident in the status of Britton moving forward.

In the meantime, the Orioles will turn the closer role over to Brad Brach. Brach has been dominant this year alongside Britton at the back end of the Orioles bullpen. Brach, an All-Star in 2016, appeared in 71 games last year for the Orioles. In those appearances Brach went 10-4 with a 2.05 ERA in 79 innings pitched. In 6 innings this season, Brach has allowed only 1 hit, while striking out 10 would-be baserunners.

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