The Baltimore Orioles’ woes in keeping starting pitchers healthy continued Tuesday when they placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list because of right shoulder inflammation.
The move is retroactive to Saturday. In a corresponding move, the Orioles recalled rookie left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore also recalled right-hander Dillon Tate from Norfolk and placed left-handed reliever Keegan Akin on the paternity list.
Eflin was scheduled to start against the host New York Mets on Wednesday afternoon. Manager Brandon Hyde has not announced a replacement to start and didn’t dismiss the possibility of a bullpen game. He said ace Corbin Burnes, who last pitched on Friday, wouldn’t pitch until his scheduled start on Thursday against visiting Houston.
“Hopefully it’s just short term,” Hyde said of Eflin’s injury. “After his start, his shoulder was a little bit sore. It had been getting better these last few days, so we’re kind of hopeful but also a little bit concerned about him making the start tomorrow and had him come out and throw a little bit today. We just feel like the best, right thing to do is to give him a little extra time with his shoulder. We’re optimistic that he’s going to be able to not miss much time after the IL (minimum), if any.”
Eflin is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA, two walks and 25 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings over four starts since the Orioles acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays for three minor league prospects on July 26.
He was 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA, 13 walks and 87 strikeouts in 110 innings over 19 starts for the Rays this season.
The Orioles’ injured list includes five starting pitchers: Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, John Means, Tyler Wells and Eflin. Right-hander Rodiguez is on the 15-day IL with a right lat strain, retroactive to Aug. 4. Right-handers Bradish and Wells and lefty Means are out for the season following elbow surgeries.
All-Star closer Felix Baustista and relievers Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb also are on the list.
Elfin, 30, is 61-60 with one save and a 4.20 ERA in 181 games (169 starts) over parts of nine seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (2016-22), Rays (2023-24) and Orioles.
He led the National League with two complete games in 2019, topped the American League with 16 wins in 2023, and his combined numbers this season include a major league-best rate of 1.0 walks per nine innings.
The San Diego Padres drafted Eflin in the first round (33rd overall) in the 2012 MLB Draft.
Povich, 24, is 1-6 with a 5.77 ERA, 23 walks and 31 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings over nine starts for the Orioles. Tate, 30, is 2-1 with one save, a 4.59 ERA, nine walks and 23 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings over 29 relief appearances.
Akin, 29, is 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA, 16 walks and 78 strikeouts in 64 innings over 51 relief appearances.
–Field Level Media