Manager Craig Albernaz said after Tuesday's loss to the Rangers that he expects Eflin (elbow) to be placed on the injured list, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Eflin made an early exit from Tuesday's contest after 3.2 innings of one-run ball due to elbow discomfort. He's scheduled to receive an MRI on his elbow Wednesday, but the Orioles don't seem to be very optimistic about what the results will show. A clearer timeline for the right-hander's return will emerge once the team knows the extent of the damage done.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Exits with trainer
Rotowire
Eflin was removed from Tuesday's game against the Rangers due to right elbow discomfort, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Eflin had allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters before one of the Orioles' trainers made the call to pull him with two outs in the fourth inning. It's unclear whether the 31-year-old righty is dealing with any structural damage, but the team should provide an update on his status in the near future.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Rise in velocity in spring debut
Rotowire
Eflin (back) allowed one hit and one walk in two scoreless innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out three.
It was an impressive outing by Eflin, who made his first game appearance since undergoing back surgery last year. The 31-year-old right-hander even showcased some increased velocity, with his fastball topping out at 94 mph after averaging 91.9 mph the past two seasons. If all continues to go smoothly during spring training, Eflin remains on track to dodge the injured list and be part of Baltimore's Opening Day rotation to begin 2026, per Jake Rill of MLB.com.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Set for spring debut Thursday
Rotowire
Eflin (back) is scheduled to make his spring debut in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
Eflin underwent back surgery in August of last year, and he's slated to make his first appearance in game action since July of 2025. The 31-year-old right-hander was Baltimore's Opening Day starter a year ago, but Eflin now finds himself in contention with Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells for the No. 5 rotation spot this spring.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Full participant for camp
Rotowire
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Wednesday that Eflin (back) will be a full participant as spring training gets underway, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Eflin missed the final two months of 2025 due to a back injury that he addressed with lumbar microdiscectomy surgery Aug. 18, but he was cleared to resume throwing off a mound in early January. Baltimore re-signed the veteran righty on a one-year, $10 million deal in October, so Eflin should be ticketed for a back-end rotation spot.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Slated for mound session next week
Rotowire
Eflin (back) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Jan. 6, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery in August. Eflin -- who re-signed with the Orioles on Sunday -- has dealt with back issues off-and-on throughout his career and said he felt immediate relief after the operation. His goal is to be ready for Opening Day, but more will be known about his timetable once he's ramped up his throwing. Eflin posted a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings for Baltimore during an injury-shortened 2025 season.
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Zach Eflin: Sticking around Baltimore
Rotowire
Eflin (back) and the Orioles agreed on a one-year, $10 million contract with a mutual option for 2027 on Sunday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Eflin will stick around Baltimore after spending the 2025 campaign with the team. The right-hander produced an inflated 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 50 strikeouts over 14 starts with the Orioles before undergoing season-ending back surgery in August. Eflin will look to be back to full health in time for spring training and hit the ground running in 2026.
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Orioles' Zach Eflin: Back surgery completed
Rotowire
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: Out for season
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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: 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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
