No structural damage in Harvey's elbow (updated)

BOSTON - An examination on Hunter Harvey's right elbow Monday in Baltimore didn't reveal any structural damage, with his latest bout of discomfort related to tendinitis.

Harvey will remain shut down after his latest round of flat ground sessions in Sarasota were halted on Sept. 18. He's basically been prescribed rest.

The Orioles no longer are sending Harvey to the Arizona Fall League, where he was supposed to pitch for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Harvey underwent an MRI on Aug. 22 that didn't reveal any structural damage in the elbow and he was allowed to resume throwing a week later. He initially had been cleared on Aug. 6 to get back on his program after experiencing some stiffness in his right forearm that removed him from the mound, but the Orioles shut him down again on Aug. 21.

The latest MRI didn't reveal any changes in the elbow, a relief to a young pitcher and an organization that envision him as part of the rotation while the rebuilding process unfolds.

A season that was supposed to launch Harvey onto the Orioles staff this summer has consisted of only nine starts with Double-A Bowie. The first-round pick in 2013 registered a 5.57 ERA and 1.392 WHIP in 32 1/3 innings.

Harvey was placed on the seven-day disabled list after a June 1 start against Trenton, when he allowed six earned runs in two innings. He sustained a shoulder injury, termed "posterior shoulder instability," before the outing while trying to avoid a line drive headed toward him in the Baysox dugout.

The forearm and elbow soreness has kept Harvey off the mound. The Orioles will try again to get him healthy and keep him off the disabled list in 2019.

In the meantime, Harvey won't do any throwing while he goes through the process of eliminating the inflammation in his elbow.

The Orioles have assigned pitchers Chris Lee, Tanner Chleborad, Tyler Erwin and Jay Flaa to the Desert Dogs. Catcher Martin Cervenka and infielder Steve Wilkerson also are on the roster.

Outfielder Austin Hays was removed after undergoing ankle surgery.

Update: The Orioles have announced that right-hander Ryan Meisinger will start the first game of tomorrow's doubleheader. The starter for the nightcap is still listed as TBD.