Orioles Put RHP Zach Eflin (Shoulder Injury) on Injured List as Another Starting Pitcher Suffers Setback

The struggles of the Baltimore Orioles in maintaining the health of their starting pitchers continued on Tuesday as they put right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day disabled list due to inflammation in his right shoulder.

This move is retroactive to Saturday. In response, the Orioles brought up rookie left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk. They also called up right-hander Dillon Tate from Norfolk and placed left-handed reliever Keegan Akin on the paternity list.

Eflin was set to start against the New York Mets on Wednesday, but manager Brandon Hyde has not yet announced a replacement and has not ruled out the possibility of a bullpen game. He also stated that ace Corbin Burnes, who last pitched on Friday, will not pitch until his scheduled start on Thursday against the Houston Astros.

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\"We hope it's just a short-term issue,\" said Hyde of Eflin's injury. \"After his last start, his shoulder was a bit sore. It had been improving over the past few days, but we are both hopeful and concerned about him making the start tomorrow. We had him throw a bit today and decided that the best course of action is to give him some extra time to rest his shoulder. We are optimistic that he will not miss much time after the minimum time on the IL, if any.\"

Since being acquired by the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 26, Eflin has a record of 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA, two walks, and 25 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings over four starts.

Prior to joining the Orioles, Eflin had a record of 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 currently have five starting pitchers on the injured list: Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, John Means, Tyler Wells, and Eflin. Rodriguez is on the 15-day IL with a right lat strain, retroactive to August 4. Bradish, Wells, and Means are all out for the season after undergoing elbow surgeries.

The injured list also includes All-Star closer Felix Baustista and relievers Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb.

Eflin, 30, has a career record of 61-60 with one save and a 4.20 ERA in 181 games (169 starts) over nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (2016-22), Rays (2023-24), and Orioles.

He led the National League with two complete games in 2019 and topped the American League with 16 wins in 2023. This season, he has the best rate in the majors of only 1.0 walk per nine innings.

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Eflin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round (33rd overall) of the 2012 MLB Draft.

Povich, 24, has a record of 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, has a record of 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, has a record of 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA, 16 walks, and 78 strikeouts in 64 innings over 51 relief appearances.