Orioles' nightmare scenario continues with latest Zach Eflin news

Orioles fans received the latest bit of devastating news on Tuesday afternoon as the team placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.

For the time being, the O's have recalled lefty Cade Povich to take his place in Baltimore, and Povich will be expected to start Thursday night in Houston.

Eflin's injury is just the latest in a long line of problems with the pitching staff this year. The Orioles have already lost Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, and John Means to elbow surgeries, and Grayson Rodriguez is currently on the IL with a lat strain.

Corbin Burnes and Albert Suarez are doing everything they can to hold the rotation together, but even Suarez has had his issues at times. Dean Kremer has been a fine fifth starter but he'll be relied on more heavily down the stretch, which isn't a good thing. Neither is the fact that the O's other trade deadline addition, Trevor Rogers, has cratered since his arrival in Baltimore.

Zach Eflin's injury is a devastating blow to the Orioles' pitching staff

It's unclear at this point how much time this injury will cost Eflin but at the rate things are going, any missed time by one of the best starters in the rotation is going to be a problem.

Eflin has been exceptional since the Orioles acquired him from Tampa at the trade deadline. He's pitched to a 2.13 ERA in 4 starts, throwing 25.1 innings with impeccable control of the strike zone. He's not a strikeout specialist but his 2.7% walk rate is lowest among all qualified starters.

He's also thrown at least six innings in each of his four starts with the Orioles, giving a massive boost to a bullpen that's struggling with both injury and performance issues of its own.

While Rodriguez has told reporters that his injury is less severe than the lat injury he dealt with in 2022, he likely won't be back until mid-September. And with Chayce McDermott on the Triple-A IL, Bruce Zimmermann is the only other starter currently on the 40-man.

Cole Irvin is available in case of emergencies, and righty Brandon Young has looked good at Norfolk this year. Either of them could get a call in the next week or so if Eflin's injury winds up necessitating an extended IL stint.

Unfortunately, O's fans wouldn't feel comfortable with either Irvin or Young pitching in a playoff series. As it stands, just Burnes and potentially Suarez line up as guys good enough to throw in big spots in October. The Orioles will have to hope Eflin's injury isn't severe enough to keep him out for the rest of the year because if that's the case, this rotation is going to be a major liability when they have to match up against the best teams in the season's most important spots.