All-Star closer Zach Britton of the Baltimore Orioles is experiencing more forearm pain and has been sent for an MRI.
After coming off the disabled list this week to make two appearances in Boston, Zach Britton’s forearm pain has returned. The All-Star closer for the Orioles had just come off the 10-day DL with a forearm strain. He threw a scoreless inning on Tuesday and Thursday.
Britton was originally placed on the DL on April 16. This latest flareup will force the Orioles to think about their next step with their closer. He was sent for an MRI on Friday after the pain did not subside following his inning. Britton threw 13 pitches on Tuesday night, but only six strikes. His command was better the second time out, with nine strikes and 15 pitches.
With Britton unavailable on Friday night, Brad Brach closed out the 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. Brach has performed very well in Britton’s absence this year, and now has six saves and 17 strikeouts in 17.0 innings.
Manager Buck Showalter was tight-lipped regarding Britton’s prognosis.
"“There’s some talk about the next step to take with him,” Showalter said. “He woke up this morning, felt it, felt some discomfort this morning. I guess we call it the night when we get back at 4 [a.m.] It got a little better as the day went on, but we’re trying to decide what our next step is.”"
Even without Britton, the Orioles have one of the best bullpens in the American League. Brach has stepped up in a big way, showing he has what it takes to close. The side-arm crew of Darren O’Day, Mychal Givens and Donnie Hart are one of the more unique trios of late-inning relievers in the league.
Next: Each MLB team's most surprising player from April
Britton has been the most reliable closer in the American League for the past three seasons after taking over the job in 2014. He has a 1.00 ERA in eight games with five saves. Britton’s streak of 54 consecutive saves remains intact and is tied for second-longest in MLB history.