The Orioles announced that Eflin underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery Monday in Florida, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Eflin's surgery appears to have gone off without any complications, and the right-hander is optimistic that he'll have a normal offseason after about 12 weeks and rest and rehab. In total, Eflin will face an estimated recovery timeline of 4-to-8 months, so he could be at risk of missing spring training and the start of the 2026 season if he veers toward the latter end of that range. Eflin, who went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings in his 14 starts with the Orioles before landing on the injured list July 31, is set to become a free agent this winter.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Shifts to 60-day IL
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The Orioles transferred Eflin (back) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Eflin is out for the season after the Orioles confirmed that he would undergo back surgery during the upcoming week, so his move to the 60-day IL is merely procedural. The veteran right-hander is expected to face a 4-to-8 month recovery from surgery, so his availability for the start of the 2026 season is in question. The 31-year-old is set to become a free agent this winter.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Out for season
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Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Tuesday that Eflin (back) will undergo lumbar microdiscectomy surgery and will miss the rest of the 2025 season, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The 31-year-old received an injection to address his lower-back discomfort in early August shortly after landing on the injured list, but he's now headed for season-ending surgery. It was a difficult contract year for Eflin, who had three different stints on the injured list and will close the campaign with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Receives injection for back
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Orioles manager Tony Mansolino said Sunday that Eflin received an injection to address his lower-back discomfort, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Eflin is on the injured list for the second time in the past two months due to the back issue, which resurfaced after he made just two starts for Baltimore following his return from the IL. The Orioles are hoping that the injection will provide Eflin with some more permanent relief, but Mansolino noted that the right-hander is without a timeline to resume throwing. Given the Orioles' standing as non-playoff contenders, Eflin will likely be brought along deliberately even once he's cleared to start throwing again.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Back on IL with back issue
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The Orioles placed Eflin on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to low-back discomfort.
Eflin will hit the shelf for the third time this season and for the second time in just over a month due to continued back problems. After being reinstated last week, Eflin made just two starts for the Orioles before suffering an apparent setback. Baltimore recalled right-hander Brandon Young from Double-A Chesapeake in a corresponding move, and he or the rehabbing Cade Povich (hip) could be called upon to replace Eflin in the rotation the next time his turn comes up.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Likely bound for IL
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The Orioles are expected to place Eflin on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The report doesn't specify what kind of injury Eflin is dealing with, but he just returned from a back issue last week after missing nearly a month of action. Rosenthal relays that it's "very possible" Eflin is still traded ahead of Thursday's deadline even though he's hurt, as he is expected to be back before the end of the season. The veteran righty holds a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings this season.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Hit around in no-decision
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Eflin did not factor into the decision in Monday's 11-4 win over the Blue Jays, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
Eflin threw 56 of 79 pitches for strikes but managed just six whiffs while giving up nine hard-hit balls, including two homers in the third inning. Some rust is understandable in his second start back from the injured list, but it marked the fifth time in 14 outings the 31-year-old has allowed multiple home runs. He'll carry a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings into a tough road matchup with the Cubs this weekend.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Orioles activated Eflin (back) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Eflin will rejoin the Orioles rotation Wednesday with a start against the Guardians after being sidelined nearly a month due to lower-back discomfort. The veteran right-hander threw 68 pitches over four innings in his final rehab outing in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last Friday, so Eflin will be somewhat limited from a workload perspective Wednesday.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Returning from IL on Wednesday
Rotowire
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Eflin (back) will be reinstated from the injured list to start Wednesday against the Guardians, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
The veteran right-hander has been sidelined nearly a month due to lower-back discomfort but is ready to rejoin the O's after making two rehab starts in the minors. Eflin threw 68 pitches over four innings during the second rehab outing and is likely to face some workload limitations in his first start back with Baltimore.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Strikes out five in FCL start
Rotowire
Eflin (back) struck out five and allowed five unearned runs on three hits and one walk over four innings in a rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.
The appearance in the FCL was the second of Eflin's rehab assignment, which he kicked off last Sunday with a four-inning, 58-pitch outing for Double-A Chesapeake. He tacked on an additional 10 pitches to his workload Thursday, then said Friday that he feels good physically and believes he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. If the Orioles concur with Eflin's assessment of his health, he could step back into the big-league rotation for Wednesday's game in Cleveland.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Moves rehab to FCL
Rotowire
Eflin (back) will continue his rehab assignment with the Orioles' rookie-level Florida League Complex squad this week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
After tossing four innings and 58 pitches in a rehab start with Double-A Chesapake this past Sunday, Eflin will head to Florida for his second minor-league outing and will look to increase his workload. If all goes smoothly in his upcoming outing in the FCL, Eflin should be ready to return from the 15-day injured list next week to make his first start for the Orioles since June 28. His eventual return will likely bump Brandon Young out of the rotation.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Throws 58 pitches in rehab start
Rotowire
Eflin (back) struck out two and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk over four innings in his rehab start with Double-A Chesapeake on Sunday.
Eflin tossed 58 pitches (38 strikes) in what may have been the only rehab outing he'll require before returning from the 15-day injured list. According to MLB.com, Eflin is scheduled to continue his throwing progression at the Orioles' spring facility in Florida on Friday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to re-enter the rotation for the team's second series following the All-Star break. Brandon Young appears to be the most likely candidate to lose his rotation spot once Eflin is activated.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Could make rehab start Sunday
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Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that Eflin (back) is tracking toward making a rehab start Sunday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Eflin likely has one more throwing session to get through before the Orioles map out a rehab schedule for him, but assuming he experiences no further setbacks with his back, he should be ready to report to an affiliate Sunday. The veteran right-hander may need just one rehab start before rejoining the Baltimore rotation at the start of the second half. Eflin has been on the 15-day injured list since late June due to low-back discomfort.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Placed on IL with back injury
Rotowire
The Orioles placed Eflin on the 15-day injured list Monday with low-back discomfort.
Eflin was removed from his start Saturday against Tampa Bay due to the injury, and a trip to the IL was the expected outcome. The veteran right-hander will be eligible to return at the start of the second half, and he should have a good chance to be activated around that time, barring any setbacks.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Likely bound for IL
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Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that Eflin (back) is "trending toward an IL" stint, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Baltimore will likely evaluate Eflin over the next 24 hours before making a decision, but since the All-Star break is looming and he previously spent time on the injured list in 2023 and 2024 due to back issues, the club will likely exercise caution with the right-hander. Eflin was removed from his start Saturday due to a lower-back strain, but he told Jake Rill of MLB.com that the injury first cropped up in his pregame bullpen session. With Cade Povich on track to return from the injured list early next week, the Orioles already have a ready replacement for Eflin in the rotation.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Exits game with back tightness
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Eflin was removed from Saturday's game against the Rays due to lower-back tightness, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Eflin was rocked for four runs on 28 pitches (18 strikes) in the first inning, and his back issue may have contributed to his poor outing. He'll go to the clubhouse to undergo further testing, and the Orioles should provide an update on the veteran right-hander in the near future. Scott Blewett took the mound for Baltimore at the top of the second frame.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Hammered by Yanks
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Eflin (6-4) took the loss Saturday as the Orioles were routed 9-0 by the Yankees, coughing up six runs on 10 hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over three innings. He struck out four.
In his shortest outing of the season, Eflin served up a long ball to Trent Grisham in the first inning before J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice took him deep in the second. It's the fourth time in his last seven starts that the right-hander has been tagged for multiple homers, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 6.87 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB over 38 innings. Eflin will try to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Rays -- the team that traded him to the O's last July.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Battered around in defeat
Rotowire
Eflin (6-3) took the loss after pitching five innings and allowing seven runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out two during Monday's 7-1 loss to the Rays.
Eflin's three-start win streak is officially over after he turned in one of his worst starts of the season Monday. After allowing just four runs in 19.1 innings over his prior three starts, he allowed seven runs in five innings. He also allowed 10-plus hits for the second time this year. The 31-year-old has been mostly solid this season, but a couple of bad starts where he allowed 15 runs in 10.1 innings have inflated his ERA to 4.81. The right-hander is next scheduled to start on the road against the Yankees.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Wins third straight
Rotowire
Eflin (6-2) earned the win Wednesday over the Tigers, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.
It was another strong outing from Eflin, who held Detroit scoreless through six innings before giving up a lone run in the seventh. Eflin has won his last three starts, allowing just four runs over 19.1 innings. The right-hander's lowered his ERA to 4.08 through nine starts (53 innings) this year with a 1.09 WHIP and 36:7 K:BB. Eflin is currently lined up to face the Rays on the road in his next outing.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Picks up fifth win
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Eflin (5-2) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out seven.
Eflin was able to scatter the majority of Seattle's hits, allowing just a two-out RBI single to Cal Raleigh in the third inning before Raleigh smacked a two-run homer in the fifth. The Orioles would ultimately rally for a 4-3 victory, giving Eflin his second straight win. The 31-year-old right-hander sports a 4.47 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB through eight starts (46.1 innings) this season. Eflin tentatively lines up for a road matchup with the Tigers in his next outing.
