The Baltimore Orioles haven’t exactly had the start to the 2026 campaign that they were hoping for, as they have crawled out to a 3-4 record through their first seven games. And to make matters even worse, injury issues are already beginning to pile up for the Orioles, with their starting rotation recently taking a big hit.
After making his first start of the season, veteran starting pitcher Zach Eflin landed on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow injury. The hope was that this would be a short stint for Eflin, but it sounds like it could be more serious, as the O’s have received an update on his status that will surely make their fans concerned.
Zach Eflin to Receive Second Opinion on Injured Elbow
Eflin is entering his third season with the O’s, and it’s safe to say that his first full year with the team did not go according to plan in 2025. In just 14 starts, Eflin struggled to the tune of an ugly 5.93 ERA, as he dealt with injuries throughout the season. The hope was that, with a full offseason, Eflin would be able to return to form, which is why the team re-signed him to a one-year, $10 million contract in free agency.
Eflin made his season debut against the Texas Rangers, and he appeared to be getting off on the right foot. He had to depart the game early, though, due to his aforementioned elbow injury. Eflin finished the day by giving up one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven in 3.2 innings of work.
Elbow injuries are always worrisome in baseball, especially for pitchers. You always want to avoid the dreaded Tommy John surgery, but there’s real concern that Eflin could be trending towards seeing his season come to an end before it even really starts. That’s because he’s going to Dallas, Texas, to receive a second opinion on his elbow, which is usually not a good sign.
“Manager Craig Albernaz said prior to Friday’s series opener in Pittsburgh that Eflin is traveling to Dallas to get a second opinion on the elbow from Dr. Keith Meister,” Jake Rill of MLB.com reported. “Eflin, who exited his season debut on Tuesday with discomfort, underwent imaging in Baltimore on Wednesday after getting placed on the 15-day injured list.”
Orioles Bracing Themselves for Zach Eflin Injury Update
GettyZach Eflin reacts during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers.
You never want to jump the gun when it comes to these sorts of injuries, and it’s best to wait until an official update surfaces on Eflin’s injury status before going into a full-blown panic. Every baseball fan has been down this road before, though, so there’s going to be some concern surrounding Eflin until more news surfaces.
In the meantime, the Orioles will have to push forward without a key piece of their starting rotation. The American League East appears set to be a very competitive division, so the O’s can’t afford to lose any sort of ground in the early stages of the season. The good news for Baltimore is that it is currently leading the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 through seven innings in its ongoing contest.
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