Opening Day is just around the corner, as we are 12 days away. The Baltimore Orioles are set to make the trip across the border to face their division rival the Toronto Blue Jays. With all the excitement on the horizon, the O’s announced Friday that veteran Zach Eflin will get the ball when they start their season in Toronto.
Eflin had a very strong 2024 campaign with Baltimore after being traded by Tampa Bay. Eflin pitched to a 5-2 record with a 2.60 ERA in nine starts with the O’s. Eflin was a very key piece in the Orioles rotation as they dealt with multiple pitching injuries in the latter part of the 2024 season. Not a huge strikeout pitcher (only 47 in 55.1 innings), but he did a great job keeping the ball in the yard (9 HRs) and kept the walks down (11). The O’s will need another strong season from Eflin, as they are dealing with more injuries in the rotation. Kyle Bradish is slated to come back later in the season, and Grayson Rodriguez is set to start the season on IL.
Zach Eflin has had a very strong career thus far. He broke into the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016 and pitched in the 2022 World Series against the Houston Astros. Eflin is able to provide a great veteran presence on one of the youngest teams in the Major Leagues. As mentioned previously, his most recent stop before Baltimore was with another AL East foe, the Tampa Bay Rays. In 1.5 seasons with the Rays, Eflin pitched to a 21-15 record with a 3.80 ERA in 287.2 innings.
There’s lots to be excited about if you’re a Baltimore Orioles fan. One thing that looms in the future is if the team can produce in the postseason, as they have been one-and-done in the past two years. Look for Zach Eflin to play a huge part in the O’s trying to win their second division title in three years, and their penultimate goal of bringing home a World Championship.
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