Orioles starter candidate Nathan Karns scratched from Friday night start with arm soreness

CLEARWATER, FLA. — Right-hander Nathan Karns, the only free agent given a major league contract by the Orioles over the offseason, has been scratched from Friday night’s start against the New York Yankees with what manager Brandon Hyde describes as “general arm soreness.”

Karns pitched just nine games in 2017 and missed all of 2018 after undergoing surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome and suffering an elbow injury last spring. He figures to be the Orioles’ fourth starter if he is healthy and throwing well come Opening Day.

“We’re just going to push him back and throw a side instead I think Sunday and then go back on his routine from there,’’ Hyde said. “Just give him a little bit of a blow, especially, because he’s got some history there. From not being in a competitive situation and having some arm issues the last few years, we really want to be careful for him.”

Karns made his first game appearance since last spring on Monday against the Minnesota Twins. He became a free agent in October after two seasons in the Royals organization and signed with the Orioles on Feb. 7.