Pitcher Zach Eflin’s strong night on the mound ended early when the Baltimore Orioles right-hander left the game on April 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to shoulder fatigue.
Eflin pitched six innings and allowed just one run on four hits, but his velocity dipped in the sixth inning after throwing 73 pitches total. One day before his 31st birthday, Eflin was pulled after mentioning the fatigue to manager Brandon Hyde between innings. Nevertheless, the Orioles did go on to beat the Diamondbacks 5–1.
Orioles’ Zach Eflin Out for 1 Week With Lat Strain
Eflin had an MRI the day after his outing against the Diamondbacks. And according to Andy Kostka, an Orioles beat writer for The Baltimore Banner, Eflin has a low-grade lat strain and will be shut down for a week. Hyde said the team will reevaluate Eflin’s condition after that, and ideally, he’ll be ready to start throwing again.
Zach Eflin has a low-grade lat strain and he will be shut down for a week, Hyde said.
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka)
In case a roster move is needed, Baltimore sent right-hander Colin Selby to Arizona as part of the taxi squad. But Hyde said there was optimism before the game based on how Eflin’s shoulder felt Tuesday morning.
The Orioles are now missing the top three pitchers in their rotation. Kyle Bradish had Tommy John surgery in June 2023, and the team already knew he wouldn’t be available this year.
Grayson Rodriguez, meanwhile, dealt with elbow irritation during spring training. While he’s throwing, he hasn’t progressed to a minor league rehab assignment.
Baltimore is also without reliever Albert Suárez, who was placed on the 60-day injured list on Monday, April 7, with a shoulder issue. Hyde said that surgery is not expected, but Suárez is expected to miss a few months.
In addition, right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee surgery) and outfielder Colton Cowser (fractured thumb) remain sidelined.
The Orioles could consider right-hander Brandon Young if they need a replacement starter. He’s already on the 40-man roster and has looked solid for Triple-A Norfolk, giving up two unearned runs in 11 1/3 innings.
Another option is right-hander Cody Poteet. Baltimore acquired Poteet from the Chicago Cubs in March for cash. He posted a 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings last season with the New York Yankees, starting four games. Prior to that, he played in 19 total games for the Miami Marlins in 2021 and 2022.
There’s also a chance Baltimore could skip Eflin’s spot in the rotation for now. With off days Thursday and Monday, the Orioles could get by with four starters on regular rest, which would buy Eflin some extra time to recover.