Zach Eflin Refined His Changeup And Slider
Zach Eflin has the potential to be an ace right alongside teammates Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. The right-hander went 4-2 with a 3.97 ERA and a 3.39 FIP in 11 outings (10 starts) last year and leaned more on his sinker while using a more effective curveball to post a career-best 28.6 percent strikeout rate. He spent the offseason refining his changeup and slider, specifically increasing his arm speed with his changeup. Eflin also worked to add more depth to his slider. Entering his age-27 season, most fantasy managers will look at his career K/9 of 7.3 and pass on him, but if he can improve on the gains he made in 2020, you're looking at a fine sleeper candidate that will come at a cheap price (203 ADP) in the later rounds of drafts.
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Zach Eflin To Throw Another Bullpen On Tuesday
Zach Eflin (lat) is scheduled to throw his second bullpen session on Tuesday. Eflin threw his first bullpen session last Friday after landing on the 15-day injured list back on April 9 with a strained right lat. The 31-year-old veteran continues to make progress and could be cleared to go on a minor-league rehab assignment if he has another successful bullpen on Tuesday. The former 33rd overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2012 had allowed six earned runs while walking just one and striking out eight in 18 innings over his first three starts this year with Baltimore before getting hurt. Eflin was much better for fantasy managers last year after he was traded from Tampa to the O's, and he had picked up where he left off. He is a control artist that keeps hitters off balance, but his drop in strikeout rate is concerning for his overall fantasy upside.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that right-hander Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
Zach Eflin To Throw A Side Session Later This Week
Zach Eflin (lat) will throw a side session on either Friday or Saturday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Eflin has been cleared to throw off a mound this weekend for the first time since suffering a right-lat strain back on April 7. The 31-year-old might require several minor-league rehab starts after he throws a couple of bullpen sessions, though, which means we probably won't see him come off the 15-day injured list and rejoin Baltimore's starting rotation until some point in early May, barring a setback. Before his injury, Eflin had a 3.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with eight strikeouts and only one walk in 18 innings pitched over his first three starts in 2025. When healthy, Eflin still has fantasy value in mixed leagues, although there isn't a ton of upside after he showed a dip in his strikeout rate a year ago with Tampa and Baltimore.
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Zach Eflin Plays Catch Wednesday, Hopes To Return Soon
Zach Eflin (lat) played catch on Wednesday for the first time and is optimistic and hopes to return to the team soon. "I'm not interested in missing a lot of time," Eflin said. The 31-year-old's right-lat strain has been considered "very mild," and his timetable for a return will ideally be measured in "weeks than months." He will eventually go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the injured list, so there's a chance we won't see Eflin again until the beginning of May. The former first-rounder was looking good in his first three starts in his first full season with Baltimore before his injury, going 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with eight strikeouts and only one walk in 18 innings pitched. Eflin is a control artist, but his lack of strikeouts last year and to start this year is a bit concerning.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Source: The Baltimore Sun - Jacob Calvin Meyer
Zach Eflin Heading To Injured List With Low-Grade Lat Strain
Zach Eflin (lat) will be placed on the injured list with a low-grade lat strain and will be shut down from throwing for a week, per the Baltimore Sun's Matt Weyrich. Eflin pitched well in Monday's 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks but was pulled after throwing 73 pitches due to what was reported to be shoulder fatigue. This is a blow to fantasy managers and the O's, as the team is already without Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) due to elbow inflammation. It remains to be seen who they will turn to to fill the rotation spot, although there are no apparent fantasy standouts. The team did sign veteran Kyle Gibson at the end of spring, but he is not fully ramped up and would not be of fantasy interest if he were to join the team and fill in.
Source: Matt Weyrich - X.com
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that starting pitcher Source: Matt Weyrich - X.com
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