After allowing five runs in back-to-back losses to the Houston Astros, the Orioles’ third-best reliever is heading to the injured list.

Danny Coulombe, the best left-hander in Baltimore’s bullpen, was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday morning with biceps tendonitis, the Orioles announced before their matinee against the Astros. The IL stint is retroactive to Aug. 9. Right-hander Joey Krehbiel was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Coulombe on the 26-man roster.

Coulombe was a nondescript addition at the end of spring training when the Orioles acquired him from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations. But the veteran lefty has turned out to be one of manager Brandon Hyde’s most trusted relievers, often pitching in high-leverage situations before the All-Star duo of Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista. In 39 innings — Coulombe’s most in a season since 2017 — the 33-year-old has a 2.77 ERA with 48 strikeouts.

While he hasn’t been as dominant as Cano or Bautista, Coulombe is having a career year with Baltimore after eight years as a journeyman with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins and minor league affiliates of the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers. Despite ranking in the 2nd percentile in fastball velocity at around 91 mph, Coulombe ranks in the top 25% of virtually every key metric Statcast tracks, according to Baseball Savant. His 84.9 mph average exit velocity is best on the Orioles and in the top 2% of major league pitchers, and so does his 34.4% chase rate.

This story will be updated.

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