Orioles top prospect becomes vital piece in rotation mix after Zach Eflin injury

The Orioles have had injury problems all year, losing a trio of starters to Tommy John surgery earlier in the season before watching both Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin hit the IL in recent weeks with concerning issues.

Rodriguez had dealt with a lat strain way back in 2022 that kept him out for three months. While he claims this particular instance is less severe than the previous one, Brandon Hyde didn't exactly inspire confidence in Rodriguez's impending return when he spoke with reporters last week.

The news of Eflin going down with shoulder inflammation on Tuesday afternoon hit Orioles fans like a ton of bricks. It's just the latest in a long line of pitching injuries that at this point look like they could completely derail the O's postseason chances.

The extent of Eflin's injury is still unknown but shoulder problems are some of the most concerning pitching injuries in the sport right now. While elbow surgeries can keep pitchers out for a full calendar year or more, the majority of guys make full recoveries thanks to advancements with the Tommy John procedure.

Shoulder injuries are a different problem entirely. It's probably a bit alarmist to suggest the worst case scenario for Eflin without having the full report from the Orioles but it's tough to be optimistic, first with the nature of the injury but also with the way things have gone for the Orioles this season.

Zach Eflin injury puts Orioles' prospect Cade Povich back in the spotlight

While we'll have to wait a bit longer to get more information about Eflin, the Orioles will have to find a way to replace his production for at least the next few weeks.

The O's immediate decision was to recall lefty Cade Povich, who is now scheduled to start on Thursday against the surging Astros. It'll be a tough test for him but while Povich struggled in his first taste of the big leagues, he put on a show in a one-off start last Saturday.

Pitching against the Red Sox, Povich went 6.1 innings while giving up just 2 runs on 2 hits and striking out 6 without allowing any walks. Along with a scoreless six inning appearance against the Braves back in June, Povich's most recent start was one of the best of his young career.

If the Orioles are going to keep pace with the Yankees in the race for the AL East title, they'll need Povich to step in and fill the void created by Eflin's balky shoulder.

Entering Thursday's games, the Orioles find themselves 0.5 games up in the division with just under six weeks left to play. A couple weeks ago, Orioles fans were starting to think about how to set the postseason rotation heading into October. Now we're hoping the O's can hang on to a dwindling 3.5 game lead in the Wild Card race with a patchwork rotation and a bullpen that's coming apart at the seams.