Orioles lose Zach Eflin to IL with shoulder inflammation amid battle with Yankees for AL East title

The Orioles currently sit a half game back in the division

By R.J. Anderson Aug 20, 2024 at 5:30 pm ET• 1 min read

The Baltimore Orioles entered Tuesday a half game back of the New York Yankees in the race for the American League East crown. It's to be seen if the Orioles can overtake the Yankees and win consecutive division titles for the first time in a half century, but in the short term they'll have to go at it without one of their top deadline additions. 

That's because the Orioles placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the injured list on Tuesday because of right shoulder inflammation. Baltimore also placed lefty Keegan Akin on the paternity list and, in a pair of corresponding moves, recalled left-hander Cade Povich and righty Dillon Tate from Triple-A Norfolk.

Eflin, 30, has started four times for Baltimore since being acquired at the deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays. He amassed a 2.13 ERA (180 ERA+) and a 12.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio in those games, improving his seasonal marks to a 105 ERA+ and a 7.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the process. 

The Orioles have not yet announced who will take Eflin's scheduled start on Wednesday.