More on Karns, Cobb and the injured list

Whatever the result of last night's game, no matter how many runs scored via infield hits, errors and rotten luck, the Orioles could score it a victory simply because no one else got hurt.

Within a span of about four hours, the team announced that pitchers Nate Karns and Alex Cobb were going on the 10-day injured list. Moves that hadn't been anticipated, rumored or suspected.

Karns worked a scoreless ninth inning Monday night and, while his four-seamer dipped into the upper-80s, alarms didn't sound outside of the clubhouse. Cobb lasted five innings in Thursday's home opener after coming off the IL and would have started again tonight.

I saw Cobb walk to his locker yesterday with a towel wrapped around his waist, looking like a guy who just emerged from a whirlpool treatment. He arched his back as if trying to get loose and plopped down in his chair.

Using my reporter instincts, I rushed over to Cobb with about three minutes left before media access ran out and ... asked him about Karns.

Cobb wasn't aware of Karns' right forearm strain until I told him.

"Honestly, I don't know the extent of it or anything like that, but talking to him, he seems fine," Cobb said. "I didn't even know there was anything. Usually, you know when there's something serious going on, so I don't want to talk out of place, but it seems like he's in pretty good spirits, so more than likely it's probably a precautionary thing.

"I think it's always concerning, obviously more so to the media and people that aren't around the person that it's happening to every day, but a lot of times it's such a long season that it's a precautionary thing. I know it's early on, but he's coming back from a lot of stuff in his career, so hopefully it's just something precautionary."

Catcher Jesús Sucre also was out of the Karns loop until I provided an update. My next job will be to provide the pink slips.

Sucre was behind the plate Monday and had no idea that the veteran right-hander would follow a routine ninth inning with a trip to the IL.

"You really surprised me," Sucre said. "I didn't even know that or have any idea. I know he was throwing 89-90, but I didn't know he was hurt, also. I didn't see anything and he didn't tell me anything, either.

"I didn't know that. I don't have Twitter, I don't have anything like that."

Stop rubbing it in.

Teammates are sympathetic because they know how hard Karns worked to get back on an active roster after missing the 2018 season with an elbow injury, which followed thoracic outlet syndrome surgery the previous summer. But they're a close group that's going to hurt for anyone, no matter the circumstances. An injury, a long slump, a hostile reception from home fans. They're a protective bunch.

"That's pretty bad, man," Sucre said. "I mean, I believe he doesn't feel really good right now. He missed last year and going on the IL right now has to be so hard for him. But I hope he gets better and gets back with us. We need him."

Karns expects to return after 10 days. Manager Brandon Hyde offered a similar timeline.

"I don't really know anything," said Dylan Bundy, who starts Thursday afternoon's series finale. "I think everybody here has to deal with their own things every day. It's all about managing them and going out there and pitching when it's your turn to pitch. But I didn't really know anything specifically.

"It's frustrating, especially when you miss a significant amount of time. All you want to do is go out there and pitch and be in a big league game and help your team out. It's unfortunate, but hopefully he'll get it right and come back and join us real quick."