Zach

Eflin

Eflin still probably had something left in the tank, but the Orioles wanted to take their chances with the pen today, especially after Corbin Burnes’ long outing Tuesday. It mostly worked — the relief corps allowed one run in five innings — but there was just no offense to be had.

When asked where he was on naming a starter, Hyde said “I’m nowhere.” It seems like the natural choice would be to start Zach Eflin, but Baltimore apparently disagrees. It’s feasible Baltimore could go with a bullpen game, but all signs still point to Eflin. Just expect the leash to be short.

This was as frustrating a start Eflin has had in a long time. For a while, it seemed easy as the Orioles built him a comfortable 8-1 lead and he crossed the 1,000 career innings threshold – no small feat for someone with Eflin’s injury history. Yet, those five walks were a career-high and he just couldn’t get through the fifth inning with said huge lead. Not earning this win could wind up detrimental to certain fantasy teams and Baltimore hopes Eflin can straighten out before next week’s playoffs.

This is Eflin’s seventh quality start in eight starts since coming to the Orioles. The right-hander struck out five and walked one on the day with the only blemish being a home run allowed to Michael Conforto. He’s set to make one more start next week against the Yankees.

Eflin won five starts in a row after coming off the injured list last month, but this makes back-to-back losses, more because of the Orioles’ lack of offense than anything he’s done wrong. He’ll take a 3.55 ERA into next week’s start against the Giants.

Eflin drew the matchup against his former team on Saturday. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Yandy Díaz in the first inning. Taylor Walls then took him deep for a solo shot to lead off the third. Three base hits would score a third run in the sixth before Eflin was replaced on the mound. He struck out four. The 30-year-old right-hander will take a 3.65 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 125/17 K/BB ratio across 148 innings into a start against the Tigers in Detroit on Friday.

Eflin, who missed two turns with shoulder inflammation, has won all of his starts since the Orioles acquired him from the Rays in July. He’s 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA for Baltimore after going 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA for Tampa Bay. Eflin will face his previous team for a second time next weekend. He shut out the Rays for seven innings back on Aug. 9.

Eflin is back and starting Sunday’s game against the Rockies. The right-hander missed just the minimum stint on the injured list with his shoulder inflammation, and he was excellent in his previous four starts with a 2.13 ERA and 25/2 K/BB over 25 1/3 innings. He’s worth streaming consideration even in Colorado.

Eflin made it through Thursday’s bullpen session without issue and it sounds like the 30-year-old hurler will be ready to go on Sunday against the Rockies. He has been shelved since August 17 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder. In four starts since joining the O’s at the trade deadline Eflin has registered a terrific 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 25/2 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings.

It would be a tough draw for fantasy managers as Eflin, who is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Thursday at Dodger Stadium, would take the ball at Coors Field’s high-octane offensive environment in his return following a minimum stay on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. The 30-year-old has been phenomenal for Baltimore since coming over from the Rays at last month’s trade deadline with a sublime 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 25/2 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings (four starts).