The Baltimore Orioles' Zach Eflin trade in 2024 is the type of move that showed potential in the beginning, but hasn't worked out since.
They acquired the 31-year-old from the Tampa Bay Rays in July of that year, and he went 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA over nine starts to finish the regular season. He also allowed one run over four innings in the playoffs.
Eflin was then Baltimore's Opening Day pitcher last year, but his season was cut short after 14 starts because of a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure to heal his back. The right-hander went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA.
Eflin was healthy to start 2026, but that appears to be in jeopardy after he left in the bottom of the fourth inning of his season debut against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder threw a curveball low and outside to third baseman Ezequiel Duran, and he left the game alongside Orioles head athletic trainer Scott Barringer.
Eflin finished with one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts against two walks over 3.2 innings. Duran hit a solo homer off of him in the third.
Eflin left the contest due to right elbow discomfort, per the team.
Orioles Need Other Pitchers to Step Up
© Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
If Eflin misses extended time, Baltimore's other starting pitchers must pick up the slack. Whether the club temporarily replaces the veteran with someone else in the No. 5 starter slot or runs with a four-man rotation, his absence would put more pressure on the top four.
This especially applies to right-hander Shane Baz, who the Orioles acquired from the Rays this past offseason. The 26-year-old went 10-12 with a 4.87 ERA last season and allowed four runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings in Sunday's 8-6 win over the Minnesota Twins, which was his debut with Baltimore.
The Orioles need Baz to pitch more like he did in 2024, when he went 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA across 14 starts. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder signed a five-year, $68 million extension on Sunday, so they're banking on that to happen.
In addition to Eflin, relievers Andrew Kittredge (shoulder0 and Keegan Akin (adductor) are out. Kittredge is expected to return Mid-April, while Akin's return date is to be determined, per MLB.com.
Up next for Baltimore is a rematch with Texas on Wednesday before hitting the road to face the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox.
