The Orioles placed Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 17, on account of shoulder inflammation. Baltimore also placed Keegan Akin on the paternity list. Rookie Cade Povich and reliever Dillon Tate are up from Triple-A Norfolk to take the open spots on the active roster.
Baltimore acquired Eflin in their biggest move at the deadline. The righty had carried a 4.09 earned run average through 19 starts with the Rays in the season’s first half. He has gotten out to a fantastic start to his O’s tenure. Eflin has surrendered only six runs through his first four starts. He’s averaging nearly 6 1/3 innings per appearance and has turned in a stellar 25:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
That positions Eflin as the O’s #2 or #3 starter in a hypothetical playoff series. Corbin Burnes would surely get Game 1, while Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez are the presumptive choices for the next two appearances if they’re healthy. Both pitchers are currently on the injured list, though it doesn’t seem Eflin’s issue is as worrisome as Rodriguez’s is. While the youngster is shooting for a late September return after sustaining a lat strain, Eflin might not miss much more than the minimum 15 days. Skipper Brandon Hyde told the Baltimore beat he’s hopeful that it’ll be a short-term stay (X link via Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com).
Even a brief absence could have a significant impact on the AL East race. Baltimore is only half a game behind the Yankees for both the division lead and the best record in the American League. The O’s rotation depth has long been the biggest question mark on a very strong roster. With Kyle Bradish and John Means done for the season, Baltimore has deadline pickup Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer and Albert Suárez as their next three starters behind Burnes.
Rogers struggled for much of the season with the Marlins and has been hit especially hard in four starts since landing in Baltimore. Kremer looks like a fifth starter. Suárez has proven an excellent find in his return to the big leagues after seven years, but he’s probably best suited for a back-end or swing role on a contender. The Orioles will need to land on a fifth starter with Eflin out of action and only one off day between now and September 5. Povich, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, seems like the choice. He has had a rough opening to his MLB career, allowing a 5.77 ERA with a similarly underwhelming strikeout and walk profile across his first nine starts.
No All Star game in Baltimore in 32 years and counting, despite it being one of the best stadiums in baseball and being a ground-breaking stadium, just because of Manfr$d.
But ground has to be broken for every stadium to get built.
Manfred has been commissioner since 2015. So 1994 to 2014 we are still blaming him for? Just a thought, it could be because Baltimore is a rundown, crime ridden city instead.
Yeah it must be manfreds fault some
20 years before he even becomes comish! Some fans don’t get it
Manfr$d was working for MLB all of those years.
The Orioles haven’t applied for the All Star game. You have to submit a bid similar to the Super Bowl. The new ownership will most likely apply for the game when the renovations are complete.
If ownership doesn’t want to spend to be competitive, why should they be granted an All Star game? Now they’re winning with new ownership so maybe something will be granted soon. But, yes, very nice stadium
Since when has winning been a criteria for hosting the game – oh yea never
They shouldn’t get it until they come out against voter suppression
Baltimore is a toilet. One of the worst major cities in America. Instead of people whining about not having the ASG, maybe they should lobby to clean up the city and lower the crime rate.
Have you ever been to Baltimore?
The Trop needs their first one before any stadium gets another one.
Never thought I would say this for a seller but it’s a good time to be a rays fan
uh, no. Not even close to being a good time–in fact, worst season since 2017. We traded two of our best (if not best) offensive players who had plenty of control going forward; in return, we got Christopher Morel (ugh) and Dylan Carlson (who may be a decent role player, but he is no Randy). Eflin would have been a solid number two or three starter next season, when we get Sugar Shane back. All these trades led to TB having the best farm system–but so what? We had it a few years ago too, and most of those players were busts…not all prospects make it. We were in contention, traded our best players and are now out of contention, and the offense does not look good going forward. So no, this is not a great time to be a Rays fan. Just stay in your lane and focus on your team, because you don’t know what you are talking about here. With all due respect.
At the time of the trade deadline the Rays Offense was #23 in runs scored. 2024 Randy has returned with the Ms. Paredes is not doing much better with the Cubs. Neander added good prospects at the deadline being sellers to add more talent at A & AA. Rays were getting Springs & Ras back so Eflin was expendable & that is a huge cost savings through 2025.
Rays are gonna be really good in 2028
The same could be said of any team four years from now if ownership is motivated enough.
Only way that is going to happen is if $ternberg loosens the purse strings and signs a decent free agent or extends young players and we all know he won’t. Sell the team to an owner who will supplement the analytics with money!!
He won’t bc the Trop is situated at a poor location and Tampa is full of transplants rooting for different teams. They simply won’t draw well despite team performance and payroll. He did give Wander Franco that big contract.
You’re exactly right. The Franco contract shocked me and wouldn’t you know it had to be the one player who wasn’t right in the head. Detroit is my other team as I was born in Michigan and live in Florida, so while $tu won’t spend and the Rays will just live for 1st round playoff exits, Detroit may give me a championship in my lifetime.
I wouldn’t be surprised if NY wins it all this year. If the pitching gets hot you can’t beat that lineup.
Geez.
Speechless
He has been exactly why they were hoping for. What a great trade
lol he has been killing it for the O’s, and he will be back (retroactive means it was adjusted to a certain day, meaning they expect fifteen days from then). He has plenty of control. He is not an ace, but he does his part–and will do his part when he comes back in a couple weeks.
Too bad they don’t have a crystal ball! Injuries can happen any time.
‘Muted’
They should have traded the farm for Skubal
You win the prize for most ridiculous post of the day. Skubal’s start this weekend was his last of the year because he has already exceeded his career high in innings. Look at articles to see what teams offered for Crochet – teams don’t offer their best prospects – it’s just not done. In any case there was zero chance Detroit was trading him anyway.
Not a Phillies fan in the country was surprised by this. When he is on his game, he can dominate. But the injuries….. man….
So true. The Phillies would’ve never let Eflin walk if it wasn’t for so many injuries.
He was actually relatively healthy with the Rays for more than a year…actually, probably the healthiest Rays pitcher the past year plus. As soon as he leaves, he gets injured. Just a bit if rotten luck for the Os.
Burnes starting tomorrow instead?
No. Irvin
Yeesh, injuries have pretty much wracked all of our starting pitching depth that we thought we had. Hopefully some of the young guys in the system like povich can rise to the occasion. This late in the season in a playoff race is not the best time to have a starting pitching shortage if there is ever a best time lol
scruffmcgruff;
Defense (first) and pitching wins.
O’s fans have been groomed to believe that 2024 is a WS-given year for the team. I saw the wheels start to come off in a series with the Rangers in late July, even though the O’s took 2 of 3.
Their run is hardly over. But their D and bullpen are questionable (same as the Yankees). Steve Adams wrote above that he thinks any of Cleveland, Minnesota, or KC can take the AL Central. I’ll go a step further – I believe that any of the 3 can go to the WS, even if that team goes in as a Wild Card (and the ALC can have 2 or 3).
The defense definitely became less consistent than we were expecting. The pitching is hard to speak to with all the injuries particularly to the starters, injury stuff isn’t something you can go out and predict but it is something you can prepare for. Unfortunately no one was expecting to need to be prepared for such a littany of injuries but here we are. The bullpen has for sure been helter skelter though and you for sure need to lock down those high leverage situations. They’re obviously still contenders but boy is it ever getting harder on them during the last stretch.
Absolutely no one made any bold statements that this was a WS year. They said they wanted to compete and do more in the playoffs than last year.
They have an absurd number of injuries and are still in first place and they have the most wins in baseball (tied). What do you want? Is there a place higher than first? Or you just want to be 10 games in front?
Dream of what might have been in Bradish and Means stayed healthy or if Webb, Wells and Coulombe were in the pen now but that’s over – so we’ll see if they hang on, make the playoffs – gain some more experience.
Then we’ll see what new owners do in the off season.
tuck2;
I’ve enjoyed your posts.
I like the Orioles. The plan has been to be a sustainable contender for 8-10 years. Tough to do in a small market, but I believe they’ll do it.
A lot of their recent moves I don’t agree with. But I don’t know what those FO heads know. I didn’t like upending a team at around 110 games played that had the best record in MLB; to give jobs to youngsters as opposed to slowly phasing the youngsters in. Instead they seem to be phasing the veterans back in…..which is why they’re winning again.
Nothing is linear in pro sports. You lose key players – in this case pitching – and it appears that the team should take steps back. But we’re dealing with human beings here, and winning organizations find a way to have their healthy players reach down and contribute. That may happen here. In no way is the 2024 season shot for the O’s. But the further a team goes in the playoffs, the more the importance of strong defense, fundamental play, and pitching becomes clear. No team homers their way to the WS.
2024 is a great season for MLB – one of the best in years.
Let’s see where the Orioles are in about 2 years from now. Burnes is a FA this upcoming off-season. Eflin the following. They then will be right in the middle of a deep arbitration class of players.
Yea it sucks having so much talent and the second richest ownership in the game. I’d much rather not have young stars in their arbitration years. Amazing how dumb some posts are
Once the players get to arbitration the team control clock starts to tick away those long term extensions have to happen. That drives up payroll to the Dodgers & Mets 2 years ago kind of level. It’s stupid that some fans do not see very far into the immediate future. Take Burnes who is a upcoming FA or even Grayson R on the starting pitching side. They will not be signing below market contracts.
Crap
Baseball gods getting even with the Orioles for hording prospects and making trades to bolster their core
Fire Rubenstein, Elias and Hyde
/Sarcasm
When will teams ever learn. Trading with Tampa has risks beyond any other team. Caveat empter. Have they got a deal for you, oy vey.
Just stop. He’s out a couple of weeks. Os are trying to get healthy for the playoffs. If it costs the division so be it
Playoffs are over before they start if Eflin needs to miss time then. This is the best time to heal up. We can’t have Kremer pitching game 3 of a playoff series.