Araujo placed on disabled list with elbow injury

The Orioles have placed reliever Pedro Araujo on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain and activated closer Zach Britton.

Araujo underwent an MRI earlier today after complaining of elbow soreness following yesterday's outing in Toronto, when he served up two home runs in one inning and was charged with four runs. His ERA rose to 7.71 and his WHIP to 1.679 in 20 appearances over 28 innings.

As a Rule 5 pick, Araujo must spend 90 days on the active roster before the Orioles (19-45) can option him.

The Orioles selected Araujo from the Cubs organization in the Rule 5 draft after he went 6-1 with a 1.81 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 44 appearances with Single-A Myrtle Beach. He outlasted the other Rule 5 picks, pitchers Nestor Cortes Jr. and Jose Mesa, who eventually were returned to the Yankees.

Araujo has allowed 24 runs and 29 hits in 28 innings with 18 walks, 29 strikeouts and nine home runs surrendered. He's also hit two batters.

Major League Baseball must approve assignments to the disabled list.

Outfielder Colby Rasmus was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to create room for Britton, who figures to make his 2018 debut tonight or Tuesday. Rasmus went on the 10-day DL retroactive to April 7.

Rasmus has played in seven games on his rehab assignment at Single-A Frederick (4-for-22) and Double-A Bowie (0-for-6) while recovering from a hip injury. He was 2-for-21 with 13 strikeouts with the Orioles.

The Orioles could have transferred infielder Luis Sardiñas on the 60-day DL. He also was a consideration.

Britton knows that he could be auditioning for other clubs as a pending free agent on a team that's stuck on 19 wins. Scouts flocked to his rehab games.

"I guess so, but I'm not going to think of it like that," he said. "I'm just excited to be back pitching. When I injured myself in December, I was just looking forward to walking again and running again and then to be able to pitch back in the big leagues. There were a lot of hurdles that I overcame.

"(Brian) Ebel, a lot of the credit goes to him. The stuff that he did, coming out to California. I think he's more excited about me being able to pitch today, or at least being able to pitch. He should be. It's not an easy injury to rehab."

Manager Buck Showalter also credited Ebel, who replaced the retired Richie Bancells as head athletic trainer this season after 21 years as the assistant.

"The thought that (Britton) is a pitcher for us on June 11, that's remarkable," Showalter said. "He's checked every box that you can possibly check to get ready. I don't know what else you could do.

"It's exciting to have him back, and Darren (O'Day), so that's good."