Manager Kevin Cash confirmed Eflin will start the Rays' second game of the season Saturday versus the Tigers at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays are expected to roll out Shane McClanahan, Eflin and Jeffrey Springs as their starters for the season-opening series with Detroit, while Drew Rasmussen, Josh Fleming and McClanahan are slated to pick up starting nods in the following series in Washington next week. Eflin, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with Tampa Bay in December, built up to 3.1 innings in his most recent Grapefruit League start March 20, so he could have some light restrictions with his pitch count in his regular-season debut.
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Rays' Zach Eflin: Building up stamina
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Eflin threw 3.1 innings while allowing four earned runs on seven hits in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
It wasn't an ideal outing from Eflin, and he has now allowed six earned runs across his last 7.1 innings of work during spring training. Neither he nor manager Kevin Cash were concerned however, as Eflin faced 16 batters and noted improved durability on the mound, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He has thrown more than 150 innings in a season only once in his career, though the Rays will be relying on him to provide consistent innings after their significant investment in him this offseason.
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Rays' Zach Eflin: Contract with Tampa Bay announced
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Eflin's three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays was formally announced by the team Tuesday.
The surprise deal was reported at the beginning of the month and has now been made official. Eflin held a 4.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 65:15 K:BB ratio over 20 appearances -- 13 starts -- for the Phillies in 2022. He's battled chronic knee issues and his career numbers are rather pedestrian, but the Rays have earned the benefit of the doubt when they see something in a pitchers. It wouldn't be a surprise if they're able to coax a career year out of Eflin in 2023.
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Rays' Zach Eflin: Joins Rays
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Eflin signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Eflin declined a $15 million mutual option with the Phillies for the 2023 season to head to free agency. He's now rewarded with a long-term deal in Tampa Bay and will presumably be a significant part of their rotation plans for the length of the contract. Eflin has been limited by injuries the last two seasons, combining to maintain a 4.12 ERA with a 164:31 K:BB across 181.1 innings.
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Zach Eflin: Ticketed for free agency
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Eflin declined his $15 million mutual option to return to Philadelphia in 2023 and became a free agent Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Eflin was an effective back-end starter for the first half of the 2022 season, logging a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB in 68 innings through his first 13 starts. He would go on to miss two and a half months in the middle of the campaign due to right patellar issue, prompting the Phillies to bring him back as a reliever when he was finally ready to return in mid-September. He excelled in that role down the stretch and even emerged as Philadelphia's preferred closing option during the postseason, but the 28-year-old right-hander will presumably explore a move back to the rotation in 2023. After handing out big contracts to outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos last winter, it's unclear if the Phillies will have room in their budget to retain Eflin, who could be in store for a multi-year deal with an annual average value north of $10 million in free agency.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Clinches wild card with save
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Eflin picked up the save with a clean inning in Monday's 3-0 win over the Astros. He did not strike out a batter.
In his first career save opportunity, Eflin got the job done, retiring the Astros in order in the ninth inning and securing the Phillies' spot in the playoffs, which will be the team's first postseason appearance since 2011. Eflin has been working out of the bullpen since returning from the 60-day injured list Sept. 11, allowing just one run over 7.2 innings with nine strikeouts, one save and two holds. Eflin was less effective as a starter, albeit in a larger sample, going 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA through 68 innings before being shut down with injury.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Slated to return Tuesday
Rotowire
Eflin (kneecap) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Eflin made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Worcester on Friday and gave up a run on a hit and no walks while striking out three in two innings. The right-hander served exclusively as a starter over 13 big-league outings to begin the year but is expected to pitch out of the bullpen once he's officially activated.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Ready for rehab assignment
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Eflin (kneecap) will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin a rehab assignment Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old will start Friday for the IronPigs but is expected to operate in a relief capacity since he's returning to the Phillies as a bullpen option. Eflin started 13 games before he suffered the injury in late June and had a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB over 68 innings.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Ready for live work
Rotowire
Eflin (kneecap) is scheduled to throw live batting practice in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Eflin is ready to move on to the next phase of his rehab program for his right patellofemoral injury after he most recently threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Friday. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Eflin is expected to rejoin the Phillies as a reliever whenever he makes his way back from the 60-day IL, but what exact role he might hold in the bullpen is still up in the air. Gelb speculates that Eflin could be deployed as a traditional one-inning max-effort reliever, as a multi-inning option or as an opener versus righty-heavy lineups.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Advances to mound work
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Eflin (kneecap) threw about 20 pitches during a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Eflin has been sidelined by knee issues since late June, but he recently resumed throwing on flat ground and has now returned to mound work. If he feels good over the next couple days, the 28-year-old will throw another bullpen session this weekend. Eflin isn't expected to have enough time to build up as a starter and will likely rejoin the Phillies as a reliever, assuming he's able to return this year.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Nearing mound work
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Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson said Sunday that Eflin (kneecap) has been throwing off flat ground recently and could advance to mound work during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.
Because Eflin has been on the shelf since June 28 and is likely at least a couple weeks away from being ready to return from the 60-day injured list, Thomson acknowledged that the right-hander will likely work out of the Philadelphia bullpen once activated. The Phillies already found a replacement in the rotation for Eflin at the trade deadline, when the team acquired Noah Syndergaard from the Angels.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Moves to 60-day IL
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The Phillies transferred Eflin (kneecap) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The move delays Eflin's return until the final week of August at the earliest. Before going down in late June, the righty had pitched to a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 56 strikeouts in 68 innings. Assuming he comes back healthy before the season ends, Eflin will likely slot back into the back part of Philadelphia's rotation.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: No timetable to return
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Eflin (knee) is dealing with right patellofemoral pain and doesn't have a timetable to return, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Eflin was believed to be close to throwing a simulated game prior to the All-Star break, but the Phillies are now more concerned about his knee injury. He underwent tests during the All-Star break that didn't reveal structural damage, but he's no longer throwing off a mound and doesn't have a timetable to do so. Interim manager Rob Thomson said Eflin will go through a "really aggressive strengthening program" but won't resume mound work until he's making better progress in his recovery. The right-hander's injury isn't expected to end his season, but it's unclear when he'll be able to rejoin the Phillies.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Close to sim game
Rotowire
Eflin (knee) threw a successful bullpen recently and will throw an up-down bullpen session Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Eflin had already been ruled out through the All-Star break, but he's made encouraging progress in his recovery over the last few days. If his up-down throwing session goes well, the right-hander is expected to throw a sim game soon. It's not yet clear whether Eflin will be cleared to return for the Phillies' first turn through the rotation following their layoff, but he'll likely be in the mix to return sometime in late July.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Out through All-Star break
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Eflin (knee) won't rejoin the Phillies' rotation until after the All-Star break, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Eflin initially hoped that he'd be able to return from the injured list after missing the minimum of 15 days, but the Phillies are choosing to take a more cautious approach to prevent against a more significant injury. He received a cortisone injection June 28 and will throw a bullpen session Sunday. Interim manager Rob Thomson isn't sure whether the right-hander will be cleared to return for the Phillies' first turn through the rotation following the All-Star break, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in action sometime in late July.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Eyeing short IL stint
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Eflin (knee), who was placed on the injured list Tuesday, said he's hopeful that he'll be ready to rejoin the Phillies' active roster in the minimum 15 days, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
When speaking about his injury, Eflin noted that he's dealing with bruising under his right kneepad. Eflin had the same knee surgically repaired in September, but neither the pitcher nor the Phillies believe he'll require any sort of follow-up procedure as a result of the setback. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies will look to keep Eflin off his feet for the next 5-to-7 days before he starts up his throwing program again. Philadelphia will call up Bailey Falter from Triple-A Lehigh Valley later this week to replace Eflin in the rotation.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Hits injured list with bruised knee
Rotowire
Eflin (knee) was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Eflin's 2021 campaign ended prematurely due to knee troubles, and they popped up again during his mid-June start against the Nationals. While he was able to make his next start, which came Saturday against San Diego, the issue remains a worry, so he'll skip at least his next two turns in the rotation. He'll be eligible to return July 11, as the transaction has been backdated to Sunday, but it's not yet clear if a minimum-length stay is on the table. Bailey Falter is likely the top candidate to take his place in the rotation, as he's made three spot starts already this year.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Knee remains bothersome
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Eflin is having his right knee evaluated after Saturday's game against the Padres, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old dealt with a bruised knee in his previous start and was cleared to take the mound Saturday, but he was still affected by the injury and threw only 80 pitches. Eflin pitched well with two runs allowed over five innings, but his availability for the next turn through the rotation is once again up in the air.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Collects win in return
Rotowire
Eflin (3-5) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings to earn the win Saturday versus the Padres.
Eflin didn't have to miss time after exiting his previous start with a knee injury. He threw 46 of 80 pitches for strikes and picked up his first win in four outings with the help of four perfect innings of relief from four Phillies relievers. For the season, Eflin has a 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 56:15 K:BB across 68 innings in 13 starts. The right-hander had no restrictions Saturday and is on track for a home start versus the Cardinals next week.
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Phillies' Zach Eflin: Will start Saturday
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Eflin (knee) will start Saturday against the Padres, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Eflin was questionable for the start after he was limited to two innings Sunday against the Nationals due to a knee issue. However, he did significant pregame work Wednesday and Thursday and is comfortable enough to take the mound. Interim manager Rob Thompson stated that Eflin would not have any restrictions in San Diego.
