The Orioles’ championship hopes just got a whole lot murkier.

Felix Bautista, the shutdown closer for the AL East-leading Orioles, has hit the injured list with “some degree of an injury” to his UCL, general manager Mike Elias told reporters Saturday.

Bautista, a flamethrowing right-hander, has perhaps been the best reliever in MLB this year.

He has a 1.48 ERA over 61 innings with 33 saves, striking out over 16 batters per nine innings in the process.

“Félix has been such a massive part of our team. Best closer in the game,” manager Brandon Hyde said, per the Associated Press. “It’s been amazing to watch him do what he does. Last night sucked. Bottom line.

“Just hoping for the best for him.”

The closer appeared to injure his throwing shoulder on a 102 mph fastball to the Rockies’ Michael Toglia in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, grimacing as he was forced to exit the game just a pitch away from getting the save.

“I don’t want to speculate, but it looked to me like that one particular pitch might have had some unfortunate movement pattern,” Elias said. “He was not having any issues prior to that pitch.”

Baltimore has surged to contender status in the American League this season, standing at 70-48 with a three-game lead in the AL East and the best record in the league heading into Saturday night.

Bautista and Yennier Cano, the Orioles’ setup man, have combined to form one of the more intimidating one-two punches in the back of a bullpen this year.

Cano has also tossed 61 innings and possesses a minuscule 1.62 ERA, though he has whiffed fewer batters than Bautista, with just 8.41 hitters struck out per nine.

The bullpen’s dominance has helped manage the Orioles’ middling rotation, which ranks 15th in the majors with a 4.38 ERA this year.

— With AP