Baltimore Orioles Receive Concerning Injury Updates on Cade Povich and Colin Selby

The Baltimore Orioles continue searching for answers during a disappointing 2026 season, and the organization’s growing injury situation is only making that challenge more difficult.

On Wednesday, Baltimore received important medical updates involving two pitchers currently sidelined with injuries: starting pitcher Cade Povich and reliever Colin Selby.

While neither update officially ruled either player out long term, both situations continue carrying uncertainty — especially as the Orioles attempt to stabilize a pitching staff already dealing with inconsistency throughout the season.

According to the latest injury report published by MLB.com, Povich recently received a cortisone shot after being evaluated for discomfort in his left elbow and forearm area.

“Exited May 7 start in Miami due to left forearm discomfort,” MLB.com reported regarding Povich. “Was examined by Dr. Keith Meister and received cortisone shot on May 19.”

That development immediately raises concern for Baltimore given the nature of arm injuries involving pitchers.

Forearm discomfort and elbow inflammation are always situations teams monitor extremely carefully, especially for young starting pitchers expected to remain part of an organization’s long-term plans. While the Orioles have not yet announced a definitive recovery timeline for Povich, the decision to administer a cortisone injection suggests Baltimore is attempting to reduce inflammation before determining next steps.

The 26-year-old left-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list after exiting Baltimore’s 4-3 loss against the Miami Marlins on May 7.

Before the injury, Povich had been viewed as an important developmental piece within the Orioles’ pitching pipeline. Baltimore has spent the past several years trying to build sustainable starting pitching depth through internal development, making Povich’s health especially significant moving forward.

At this stage, the Orioles appear focused on taking a cautious approach.

Given Baltimore’s disappointing position in the standings and the increasing importance of protecting young arms, the organization is unlikely to rush Povich back onto the mound until doctors feel confident the discomfort has fully subsided.

Meanwhile, the injury outlook surrounding Colin Selby appears even more uncertain.

The 28-year-old reliever continues dealing with right shoulder inflammation and remains without a clear timetable for returning to the bullpen. According to MLB.com’s latest update, Selby is still exploring treatment options after being evaluated for lingering shoulder symptoms.

“Was evaluated on May 19 due to mild shoulder symptoms,” MLB.com stated. “Continuing to discuss treatment options. No clear timeline for return.”

Those last four words — “no clear timeline for return” — are never encouraging for pitchers dealing with shoulder-related injuries.

Unlike many minor arm issues, shoulder inflammation can become especially difficult to predict or manage for relief pitchers whose mechanics rely heavily on velocity and arm explosiveness. Recovery timelines often fluctuate depending on how a pitcher responds to rest, rehabilitation, and throwing progression programs.

Selby has already been sidelined for an extended period.

The Orioles originally placed him on the 60-day injured list back on February 14, and the latest update suggests his recovery process may continue stretching deeper into the season.

For Baltimore, the continued absence of bullpen depth creates another challenge for first-year manager Craig Albernaz.

The Orioles’ pitching staff has struggled throughout much of the 2026 campaign, particularly within the starting rotation. Injuries, inconsistency, and roster instability have forced Baltimore to constantly shuffle responsibilities on both the mound and within bullpen management.

As the team attempts to remain competitive, Albernaz has recently leaned on a starting rotation featuring Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and Brandon Young.

That group has experienced mixed results overall.

Veteran starter Chris Bassitt continues providing innings and leadership, but Baltimore’s rotation has lacked consistency from top to bottom. Injuries to younger pitchers like Povich only increase pressure on the remaining starters to stabilize games deeper into innings.

The bullpen situation has been similarly unstable.

Relievers such as Rico Garcia, Anthony Nunez, Andrew Kittredge, Keegan Akin, and Yennier Cano have handled the majority of bullpen responsibilities recently as Baltimore searches for dependable late-inning production.

However, the constant workload on relief arms has already become a growing concern.

With Selby unavailable and other bullpen pieces struggling at various points during the year, the Orioles have been forced to rely heavily on a small group of healthy relievers. That can quickly create fatigue problems during long stretches of the MLB season, especially for a team already battling inconsistency in the starting rotation.

The bigger issue for Baltimore is organizational momentum.

The Orioles entered this season hoping to rebound after a difficult finish to 2025, but injuries, underperformance, and roster instability have instead pushed the franchise deeper into frustration. Every new injury update only adds to the growing uncertainty surrounding the team’s long-term direction.

For Povich, the hope remains that rest and treatment will allow him to resume throwing activities without major complications. Young left-handed starters remain valuable commodities throughout baseball, and Baltimore still views him as an important part of the organization’s future pitching plans.

Selby’s situation appears far murkier.

Shoulder injuries for relievers are notoriously unpredictable, and until Baltimore establishes a clearer recovery path, the Orioles will likely continue operating without a firm expectation regarding his return.

As the 2026 MLB season moves forward, the Orioles face increasing pressure to find stability both on the mound and within the clubhouse.

And with injuries continuing to pile up, that task is only becoming more difficult.