April 9: Eflin has formally been placed on the injured list, retroactive to yesterday, the team announced this morning. Righty Colin Selby is up from Triple-A Norfolk for the time being, giving Hyde an extra arm in the bullpen.
April 8: The Orioles are shutting Zach Eflin down for a week after he was diagnosed with a low-grade lat strain, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters following tonight’s loss in Arizona (relayed by Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner). The righty will land on the 15-day injured list.
Eflin felt the discomfort during Monday evening’s start. He tossed six innings of one-run ball before departing at 73 pitches. Baltimore announced that he was battling shoulder fatigue and sent him for imaging. A one-week shutdown is far from the worst case scenario, but the O’s will go at least a couple weeks without their Opening Day starter.
Baltimore is now operating without arguably their three best pitchers. They knew they wouldn’t get much, if anything, from Kyle Bradish this year after he underwent Tommy John surgery last June. Grayson Rodriguez went down in Spring Training with elbow inflammation. He’s throwing but hasn’t progressed to a minor league rehab assignment.
The O’s have Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich in the rotation. They brought back Kyle Gibson on a one-year contract late in Spring Training. He isn’t yet ready for major league action. Gibson agreed to begin the season with Triple-A Norfolk to continue his build-up. He’ll make his first start there on Thursday.
Aside from Gibson, the O’s have prospect Brandon Young as their only depth starter on the 40-man roster. Young has only allowed two unearned runs while striking out 11 over his first two Triple-A starts this year. Thaddeus Ward, who made 26 relief appearances as a Rule 5 pick for the Nationals two seasons ago, is also working out of the Norfolk rotation. Cody Poteet and Roansy Contreras are working out of the bullpen in Triple-A but have some starting experience in the majors. The O’s have off days on Thursday and Monday, so they could get by with four starters into the second half of next week.
None of those pitchers can be expected to match Eflin’s production, of course. The 31-year-old righty managed an earned run average around 3.50 in both 2023 and ’24. He’d posted an even 3.00 ERA while working six innings per start over his first three appearances of this season.
Time to quit Eflin around and call up Young!
Time to quit Eflin around and call up Young.
You can say that again buddy!
Lol. I posted the 1st one and it didn’t look like it took, so posted again. We’ve all been there!
@skinsfandfw
Oh yeah, I’m sure I’ve done it more than once! For some reason when you post a comment it doesn’t always immediately show it, I have had to back out of the article before and click on it again to make sure the comment got posted. I did appreciate the dad joke though!
MLB eventually always makes room for the young.
One starter injury, even two, is a given. Three is unfortunate. To now have every single starter but one currently with the team or who they hope to be at some point who’s started for them this year or last be hurt and/or ineffective? That’s an organizational indictment.
Sugano’s interpreter must be completely ignoring all instructions coming from Orioles coaches and trainers (like in Mr. Baseball). Keep paying him to do so it is working.
Thornton – This is why everyone was so perplexed about the O’s going cheap last offseason.
When you depend on 41-year-old Charlie Morton and his 8.78 ERA to be the savior, you’re not seriously trying to contend.
Fever – I wasn’t perplexed, because they do this kind of stuff all the time (refuse to get top tier starting pitching), I was mad about it. Elias sat on his hands at the winter meetings while top of the rotation type of guys came off the board one after the other. In fact, he gave the smart-ass interview about moving the wall in because he got O’Neill and Sanchez (and lost Santander and McCann) while analysts asked “what are the Orioles doing?” as the pitchers came off and went elsewhere.
I also asked and was told by some fellow commentators that Elias knew what he was doing.
He sat on his hands? Let’s see-offered Corbin Burnes a 4 year deal with an average salary of 45 million. He signed for 35 million a year to be closer to home. Traded for Eflin at the deadline last year (18 million contract) . Signed Morton for 15. Sugano for 13. Kittridge for 10. Picked up Dominguez option for 8. So that’s 66 million at least for this year. They were in on trades for Crochet and Cease but the Red Sox had a better offer ( it happens) and the Padres decided to hold on to Cease (for now). And the previous offseason the Orioles traded for Corbin Burnes. This was after the Orioles had won 101 games. Sometimes facts are hard to accept but it’s ridiculous to assert that Elias was sitting around doing nothing last offseason.
I like the excuses you make geotheo. At the end of the day he sat on his hands and did nothing. Trying to sign or trade for talent isn’t the same as actually signing or trading for talent. If you didn’t know, now you do.
Signing Charlie Morton to a 15 million dollar contract isn’t nothing. Sugano (15-3 with a 1.87 ERA) to a 13 million dollar contract isn’t nothing. Trading for Eflin at the deadline last season and paying him 18 million this year isn’t nothing. Signing Kittridge to a 10 million dollar guarantee isn’t nothing. Offering Corbin Burnes a contract with the highest AAV ( annual average value) for a pitcher in MLB history ( 45 million) isn’t nothing. Could the Orioles have done more? Sure but you can say that about any team. The Orioles payroll went from 109 million to 163 million. Have they gotten a good return for their investment? Not at the moment but it’s only 13 games in. Lot of season left
Because players are forced to sign whoever gives them the most money? I mean, you act like Elias goes up to someone and says, “hey sign with me” and they do. Not how it works. You don’t know who he went after. Ultimately it’s up to the player. Kinda what “free agent” means.
Geo
Trading for Eflin was last July when I clearly said Elias was sitting on his hands this December.
Signing a 41 year old who was going to retire is settling. Signing a 35 year old unknown translation from Japan is the same track they took with Chen a decade ago (worked out somewhat but he wasn’t an ace) and Wada from Korea who never threw a pitch for them – its being cheap and hoping to get lucky instead of actually signing an ace. Signing Gibson is desperation. SIgning Kittredge was a backup because they were supposedly going to offer Hoffman but freaked out at his medicals (how’d that work out by the way? Hoffman’s healthy and Kittredge is hurt)
We don’t know the context or timing of the Burnes negotiations. Was 4 years a save face offer? Was the 45M trying to entice him out of going to Phoenix? Was there deferrals? A 2 year team opt out? To be fair to both sides, we don’t know. We do know it was early in the offseason. Other top tier starting pitchers were still available at the time, both to sign and for trade. Luzardo didn’t cost much as a trade.
They also knew they were going to lose Santander and McCann. They ultimately did not save much by getting O’Neill, and Sanchez might not replace McCann’s production at a higher price. The dollars spent regardless of whether it was to retain Santander or go elsewhere to stay at the same level were going to go up regardless.
The dollars spent do not equal quality increase. They spent the same amount for 3 back of the rotation guys as they would have for an ace. Did it improve the rotation? No, and I said that as they signed these guys. Depth at the bottom only helps a very little bit, but an ace improves the entire rotation top to bottom.
Also, the payroll is up – today. This year only, and by necessity as I stated above. If they’re 30-40 entering July, entirely possible with the injuries, all these guys on 1 year deals can go in a 2000 style fire sale. Including Eflin.
They’re bottom 3 in the league in dollars committed in 2026. Did you look at that? Do all these 1 year commitments tell the fans and the young core, or potential free agents that this team has a commitment to winning over the next few years? How about the ZERO dollars committed in 2028?
But they are seriously saving money.
Nobody was ever depending on Charlie Morton to be a savior. The O’s are depending on him to be a league average innings eater. So far he’s not doing that.
Where did Trevor Rodgers go?
Injured
And in AAA because he was awful before he got hurt
Cody Poteet could be called up from Norfolk to take his spot in the rotation if not Brandon Young who has thrown 11 scoreless innings in AAA over two starts.
Something is badly wrong with the O’s pitching approach…..
I was watching an O’s game last week while listening to the opposing teams broadcast crew (forgot the team and the crew…..TV or radio). After pitching coach Drew French came out for the 3rd time in 2 or 3 innings to visit whoever was pitching at that time, even one of the broadcasters asked what was up with that. I’ve been writing that here for a year. No other MLB team treats their pitchers like they’re riding on training wheels.
These O’s pitching injuries are beyond a coincidence.
–
Lot’s of similarities between the young O’s and the young Brewers. But there are big differences in the Brewers ability to make so-so pitchers better without having half of them on the IL. As for the position payers: The Brewers players don’t hit quite as well, but almost all play superlative defense, run the bases well (4-6 are fast runners and steal bases at opportune times in games), most are athletic, and all play solid fundamental baseball and are alert to the game situation.
–
Additionally, it’s hard to believe the young Red Sox so quickly passed the O’s.
Samuel-
I can’t tell what it is, but it transcends the Elias regime. This goes back to the 80s.
In the current regime, they are kept on training wheels forever yet don’t improve, aren’t extended yet still injured to this huge extent, it is crazy.
In the past, so many examples of pitchers who have only been bad in Baltimore, or got derailed in Baltimore, or didn’t get going until they left, or huge prospects that turned into nothing, “next Jim Palmer” who turned into bit relievers at best. Look at Cobb, Flaherty. Maybe Ubaldo wasn’t the issue. Arrieta sure wasn’t.
I think what you are saying in part 2 is that the Brewers are playing in a way that the total is greater than the sum of its parts, and the Orioles with so much young talent are playing the opposite (underachieving). I get that. Its also a little jarring that they’re also off to their first slow start in 3 seasons.
So it’s just the orioles pitching injuries that are an issue?
Over the past two seasons:
The Yankees have had injury issues with Cole, Schmidt and Loaisiga to just outline a few.
The Rays had 3 starters go out with season ending injuries requiring surgery
The Astros and Rays were tied with the most season opening pitchers on the IL with 9
The Dodgers and Braves had significant pitching injuries
That’s just outlining those that come to mind, there are more, as we all know.
A very obvious trend of increasing pitching injuries over a short term, recent period, and it is not just an Orioles organization isolated issue/concern.
Another poor take for Samuel
Coby mayo needs to be traded for pitching.
Guy doesn’t have a defensive position and I’m not sure he’ll hit big league pitching. Extract value before the rest of the league realizes.
He should have been traded last year in a package for Skubal. But the Orioles didn’t want to part with their prospects. Lol. I hope everyone will enjoy watching the Red Sox make the playoffs this year!
The Tigers also did not want the Orioles prospects as the front office stated publicly they did not want to trade Skubal.
The front office stated that after the Orioles refused to part with 3 of their top prospects, which included Mayo and Holliday.
No one pried Skubal away from the Tigers, I can’t pin that one fully on Elias
This is why the orioles will finish in last place. Prospects aren’t guaranteed to ver be more than a prospect. You’re team should have gone all out and given whatever Harris and the Tigers asked for.
Considering our pitching was great in the playoffs—Skubal wouldn’t have done much for us last year.
Needed to scratch some runs on the board. Mayo is blocked and without a defensive position. Pitching is a bigger need. If he becomes Austin Riley—-that sucks for us. But a controllable starter is a necessity.
Questions need to be shouted at the organization about what they are doing to their pitchers. This makes no sense. Does anyone think Mike Elias is regretting not being more aggressive to get a front line starter now?
No. This team is trying to win without spending money. Just like a handful of other teams in the MLB. Owners should be held accountable by the fans. Stop going to games until they start investing more money into their team.
They tries to sign Burnes to a rather significant amount. I commend O’s for being patient and not acting in haste overall. I’d say they did one time, trading with MIA at deadline.
As far as Skubal, Harris publicly stated they had no desire to trade him. It likely would ve taken a deal that would ve been lopsided to an incomprehensible extent.
Just because a team has highly touted prospects doesn’t mean other teams are chomping at the bit to get them. Especially when the cost would be players that are under team control and proven at the MLB level.
Mojo – I live 2000 miles away from OPACY so that’s easy. Haven’t been there since 2014. Saw them play at Coors last Aug (only because we were able to get heavily discounted tix through work)
BadMojol;
Ahhh……
So if everyone spends a lot of money all the teams will win?
LOL
You (and most posters here) ought to visit the adult reality world every once in a while.
A lot of irrational, quick to judge takes here, surprised none of them mention Corbin burnes 5.79 era and 1.91 whip with diminished velocity
Anybody understand Samuel’s comment?
Window – Thankfully I don’t see his.
Samuel’s comments are like Dunkin Donuts, America’s run-ons.
The world is a better place when you mute Samuel
No, I might disagree with him more than anyone, but he’s informative. You may have to mine them, but there are good nuggets.
Thornton – He has a history of being very opinionated while not wanting to read anyone else’s facts or opinions, which is why he’s muted numerous people. If you’ve responded directly to him and he hasn’t muted you, then you are the outlier. LOL
Young’s strikeout rate of 25% is much better than Poteet/Contreras (around 20% and below).. Let’s see what Young can do.
SERIOUSLY, ANOTHER injury???
There goes the season. Good thing the O’s have a ton of prospects to call up.
Was Wolverines sidekick joined circus met Zendaya but toity parents didn’t approve who knew he could sing and dance
@DDT – Your Wolverine comment makes me feel old, as I have no idea what you are talking about… ; )
…which, when it comes to pop culture, is very much the norm for me these days.
No worries, Os could always trade some prospects to the White Sox for Dylan Cease. Wait, he’s not available? Dang. (Checks notes). Well there’s always Garrett Crochet. Wait, what? No worries, they’re still in the very winnable AL East. Not like the Red Socks or Blue Jays are spending any money. Phew.
Think they have to give Young a spot start or two given how good he’s looked in his two games so far
MLBTR is the new Injured List Caller.
Maybe MLB should begin the year with every player on the IL, and then surprise us when the healthy ones are activated. It will feel much more positive.
I guess Colin’s Selby date is about two weeks from now
Kevin Gausman had 8 shutout innings (1 unearned), striking out 10 and giving up only 4 hits and walked no one. He’s averaged over 180 IP and 31 starts the past 4 years with his worst year of the bunch being merely above average with the other 3 being excellent. It’s a darn shame the Orioles can’t ever have top quality, dependable guys like that….