NEW YORK – The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, removing another pitcher from their depleted rotation.
Eflin was scheduled to start the final game of the series against the New York Mets on Wednesday, but manager Brandon Hyde said Eflin was experiencing shoulder soreness after pitching six effective innings in a 5-1 win over the Red Sox on Thursday night. Eflin, 30, has a 4-0 record and a 2.13 ERA in four starts since being acquired in a trade from Tampa Bay on July 26.
Hyde expressed his hope that Eflin would only have to spend a minimal amount of time on the injured list.
“He’s been great for us,” Hyde said. “Hopefully we’ll have him in September.”
Hyde said that top hitter Corbin Burnes, who pitched Friday, will not start Wednesday.
“Anything is possible for (Wednesday),” Hyde said. “At this point, I’m not really sure.”
To replace Eflin, the Orioles brought back rookie left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk. Povich has made nine starts for Baltimore, including Saturday when he allowed two runs in 6⅓ innings against the Red Sox.
Eflin is the sixth Orioles starter to go on the injured list. Burnes is the only member of the opening rotation to be on the major league roster for the entire season. Last season, five pitchers started at least 20 times for the Orioles, who went 101-61 and won the AL East for the first time since 2014.
“We’ve been pretty lucky the last few years,” Hyde said. “This year we’ve been a little bit unlucky with injuries. Things like that happen. We just have to keep going. Games aren’t going to stop to wait for the guys. We need guys to step up.”
