BALTIMORE -- For the third time this season, Zach Eflin has hit the injured list.
The Orioles placed Eflin on the 15-day IL on Thursday (retroactive to Tuesday) due to low back discomfort and recalled right-hander Brandon Young (the club’s No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline) from Double-A Chesapeake. Eflin was previously on the injured list from April 8-May 11 (right lat strain) and June 29-July 23 (low back discomfort).
Eflin was among Baltimore's top trade chips going into Thursday's 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. However, the 31-year-old right-hander was not moved, meaning he'll finish the season with the O's and then hit free agency.
Eflin has struggled a bit when healthy this season, recording a 5.93 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over 14 starts. He allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings during his most recent outing against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards on Monday.
However, Eflin has a solid big league track record. Last July, he was traded from Tampa Bay to Baltimore ahead of the Deadline and became one of the O’s best starters down the stretch, posting a 2.60 ERA over nine starts.
A 10-year MLB veteran, Eflin has a 4.28 ERA over 200 games (188 starts).
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Eflin has had trouble with back injuries in recent years, though. In addition to his two IL stints for that type of ailment this year, he also went on the IL due to low back tightness in 2023 and because of lower back inflammation in ‘24.
Of the 26 Orioles players who have spent time on the IL this season, Eflin is the only one who has had three separate stints.
Young should take Eflin’s spot in the rotation. The 26-year-old right-hander is coming off the first quality start of his eight-outing rookie season, as he allowed two runs over six innings in Game 2 of a doubleheader sweep against Toronto on Tuesday.
Although Eflin wasn't traded, the Orioles were highly active in the hours leading up to the Trade Deadline. They made five trades as sellers on Thursday, boosting their total for July to eight.