Karns placed on injured list

The comeback attempt of pitcher Nate Karns has stalled.

The Orioles placed Karns on the 10-day injured list this afternoon with a strained right forearm and recalled reliever Evan Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk. Phillips will be in the bullpen for tonight's game against the Athletics at Camden Yards.

Karns was the first free agent signed by the Orioles to a major league deal since the new regime moved in and he broke camp with them after missing the 2018 season with an elbow injury. He appeared in four games, including last night's 12-4 win, and allowed only an unearned run in 5 1/3 innings. But Karns also surrendered seven hits and walked three batters for a 1.875 WHIP.

Left-hander Paul Fry inherited Karns' bases-loaded, no-out jam Saturday night and didn't allow a run. Karns worked the ninth last night after the Orioles expanded their lead by scoring five runs and retired the side in order on three ground balls, the last to the mound.

Manager Brandon Hyde said afterward that the Orioles would discuss whether to bring up a fresh reliever, but there were no indications that Karns could go on the injured list.

Karns, 31, can earn $800,000 this season, plus an additional $200,000 in incentives. The Orioles intended to insert him into their rotation, most likely as the fourth starter, but moved him to the bullpen while unable to stretch him out and to increase the chances that he'd stay healthy.

Used twice as the opener and limited to 33 and 32 pitches, Karns was told that he'd work strictly out of the bullpen after the Orioles signed veteran Dan Straily on Friday.

Hyde will shed more light on the injury later today.

A dip in fastball velocity might have been an indicator. Karns' four-seamer averaged 89 mph last night, according to brooksbaseball.net, compared to 91.5 mph in his debut back on March 30.

There's been a gradual decline over each appearance, though nothing too alarming on the surface.

Phillips was optioned late in camp despite tossing 9 2/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. He figured to be promoted at some point and he's made it to Camden Yards only two weeks into the season.

Acquired from the Braves last July in the Kevin Gausman/Darren O'Day trade, Phillips allowed 11 earned runs (13 total) and walked six batters in 5 1/3 innings over five appearances, including an emergency start against the Blue Jays on Sept. 17.

The Salisbury, Md., native made his Orioles debut two months earlier in New York.