The Baltimore Orioles have shut down right-hander Zach Eflin and placed him on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain. Eflin will be out for at least two weeks, but likely longer since he won’t throw for the next week. Reliever Collin Selby has taken Eflin’s place on the active roster.
Eflin started Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks but had to lifted with what the team initially referred to as shoulder fatigue. Before that, he threw six-innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 win at Arizona. However, an MRI revealed a lwo-grade lat strain. He also spent time on the IL last August due to shoulder soreness.
Eflin is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA through three starts this season after going 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA in his nine starts for the Orioles last year. He was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline. Eflin’s absence is another blow to an already depleted rotation. The Orioles rank 25th in the majors with a 5.34 starting pitching ERA. Eflin now joins Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, and Albert Suárez on the IL, with outfielder Colton Cowser and reliever Andrew Kittredge also sidelined.
#Orioles’ rotation:
1. Charlie Morton
2. Dean Kremer
3. Tomoyuki Sugano
4. Cade PovichO’s starters on IL:
Zach Eflin (lat)
Grayson Rodriguez (elbow)
Kyle Bradish (TJ)
Tyler Wells (UCL)
Albert Suárez (shoulder)
Trevor Rogers (knee)
Chayce McDermott (lat)— Jake Rill (@jakerill.bsky.social) April 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js
Zach Eflin Injury a Major Blow to Orioles Already Thin Rotation
The Orioles rotation now consists of Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Cade Povich. They re-signed Kyle Gibson to a one-year deal late in spring training, but he’ll need more time to build up in Triple-A Norfolk. Gibson is scheduled to make his first start on Thursday. For now, Baltimore can get by with a four-man rotation and a nine-man bullpen, with Selby providing extra depth for manager Brandon Hyde.
With Eflin sidelined, others will have to step up and deliver quality innings. Still, losing Eflin for any stretch is a significant blow. Morton (8.78 ERA), Kremer (6.52 ERA) and Povich (6.10) having tough starts to the season.
“I’ve been on some really godo teams the past few years that went through the same thing. We lost some really good players in Atlanta and still were able to accomplish some really good things,” Morton said to reporters. “All teams have injuries. It’s just, as an individual, stepping up and doing my job.”
Main Photo: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The post Zach Eflin Injury Puts More Pressure on Orioles Pitching Staff appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.