Orioles' Craig Albernaz Provides Injury Update on Standout Reliever Before Blue Jays Game
The Baltimore Orioles' pitching staff doesn't have much to brag about thus far, as it ranks 25th in baseball with a 4.63 team ERA entering Friday's home matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, right-handed reliever Yennier Cano has been elite.
The 32-year-old is 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with four holds over 25 outings. He's also second on the team in ERA and WHIP (minimum 10 outings).
Cano is having a bounce-back campaign after going 3-7 with a 5.12 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 65 games for the Orioles last year. On the other hand, the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder's momentum was interrupted when he exited Wednesday's 11-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays due to right hamstring discomfort, per The Baltimore Sun.
Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz offered a status update on Cano before Friday night's game, via MLB.com's Jake Rill.
He said that the veteran's hamstring is "trending in the right direction," and the club would know more after he finished throwing outside.
RHP Yennier Cano's right hamstring is "trending in the right direction," Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) May 29, 2026
Cano is throwing outside and Albernaz said the club would know more about Cano's status after that.
Orioles Can't Afford Long-Term Yennier Cano Injury
The injury bug is partially why Baltimore's pitching staff has struggled this year, and the last thing it needs is one of its best options going down for an extended period. Right-hander Dean Kremer (quad), left-hander Cade Povich (elbow), right-hander Colin Selby (shoulder), right-hander Ryan Helsley (elbow), right-hander Yarami Hiraldo (shoulder), right-hander Zach Eflin (elbow) and right-hander Felix Bautista (shoulder) are all out, per MLB.com.
Luckily for the Orioles, Cano has seemingly avoided a serious hamstring ailment. Although mild strains sometimes keep players out for just one to two weeks, severe strains can sideline them for three to four months, per The National Health Institute.
Given that Baltimore is already missing two veteran starters in Kremer and Eflin as well as two closers in Helsley and Bautista, the club must hope that Cano's setback remains minor.
The Orioles acquired the latter player from the Minnesota Twins in 2022, and he broke out with a 2.11 ERA over 72 games the following year. He then notched a 3.15 ERA across 70 outings in 2024 before struggling in 2025.
Baltimore will try to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Toronto in Thursday's series opener. Friday's game will start at 7:05 p.m. ET, and the two clubs will face each other again on Saturday and Sunday to finish May.
After that, the Orioles will hit the road to face the Boston Red Sox and the Blue Jays.
Related: Orioles Make a Decision on Albert Suárez
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM.