The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring right-hander Zach Eflin from the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, according to sources. The Rays will receive three unnamed minor-leaguers in the deal. After sending outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night, the Rays will now send one of the best available starting pitchers on the trade market to their division rivals. The 30-year-old Eflin hasn't been as good in Tampa this year as he was in 2023, but he'll give the first-place O's a big boost in their rotation to close out the season. He's currently 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA (3.65 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 87 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 110 innings over 19 starts. Eflin's strikeout rate has dropped from 26.5% last year to 18.9% in 2024, his lowest mark since 2019 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Staying in the American League East won't drastically affect his fantasy value, other than having a much better offense backing him now. UPDATE: The Rays are receiving right-hander Jackson Baumeister (O's No. 17 prospect), outfielder Matthew Etzel and super-utility man Mac Horvath (O's No. 10 prospect).
The Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals are among the teams expected to have strong interest in Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Eflin is signed through 2025, so there's always a chance the Rays opt to hold onto him until next season and aim to sell high when he's playing at a higher level. After leading the American League with 16 wins and finishing sixth in Cy Young Award voting in 2023, the 30-year-old veteran right-hander has stumbled to a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts in 2024, but his 1.16 WHIP and 87:13 K:BB over 110 innings are perhaps more indicative of the quality of his pitching. Eflin gets a great chance to right the ship in Tuesday's slated start at home against the last-place Miami Marlins, but he might be wearing a different uniform altogether by then.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin will kick off his second half in Friday's scheduled start in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees. After leading the American League with 16 wins a year ago, Eflin has regressed during his second year in Tampa Bay while registering a 3.99 ERA (3.66 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP over 99 1/3 innings of work. Even so, the 30-year-old veteran right-hander owns a shiny 78:9 K:BB covering his 17 starts and also leads the major leagues with 0.8 walks per nine innings. While Friday's matchup is a tough one on paper, Eflin has dominated the Yankees to the tune of a 1.50 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 48:6 K:BB in 42 frames against them in his career, and he'll be worth deploying in all season-long fantasy leagues with some contrarian DFS appeal on a full slate.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin (4-5) picked up his fourth win Friday night after pitching six shutout innings with six strikeouts while allowing no walks on four hits in a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals. Eflin finished off a solid June with a 3.49 ERA which lowered his 2024 ERA to 3.92 on the season. The 30-year-old veteran isn't quite having the same success in his encore season with the Rays so far with a half of a run higher on his ERA and less than a strikeout per inning after having more than a strikeout per inning last season. If Eflin continues to put up solid numbers don't be surprised if he is dangled at the trade deadline with the Rays sitting at an even .500 record at 41-41 on the season. However, his contract may be tough to unload unless the Rays front office decides to eat a portion of his contract.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin (back) threw 46 pitches off the mound at Tropicana Field prior to the May 30 game against the Oakland Athletics and said he felt good afterward. Then Eflin threw a 40-pitch bullpen session consisting of two simulated "innings" on Sunday in Baltimore. He said he felt "great" and declared himself "ready to go." The Rays haven't decided when he'll rejoin the rotation, but he could start as soon as Wednesday in Miami against the Marlins. The 30-year-old was put on the injured list on May 20 after feeling discomfort in his back during his final inning on May 18 against the Toronto Blue Jays. He compared this injury to lower-back tightness that forced him to miss two weeks in April of last year and said he was "not too worried about it, honestly." Eflin will be a bit more risky in his first start back, but fantasy managers can't pass up a matchup against Miami.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin (back) was throwing off the mound on Thursday and has a "ramped-up bullpen session" likely scheduled for Sunday in Baltimore, according to manager Kevin Cash. If Eflin comes out of Sunday's session without any setbacks, he could make his return from the injured list to rejoin the starting rotation next week. The 30-year-old veteran is getting close to a return from a lower-back injury that has kept him out the last few weeks on the 15-day injured list. After winning a league-high 16 games for the Rays in his first season with the team in 2023, Eflin had gone 3-4 with a 4.12 ERA (3.65 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 44 strikeouts and only four walks in 59 innings over 10 starts before getting hurt. He should be stashed in most fantasy leagues.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin (back) played catch again ahead of Tuesday's contest against the visiting Oakland Athletics. The plan is for Eflin to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, which would mark his first activity from the mound since the Rays placed the hurler on the injured list on May 20 due to inflammation in his lower back. It's not yet known if Eflin will require a brief minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Tampa Bay's rotation, but he's on course to return sometime in early-to-mid June if all continues to go smoothly in his throwing progression. While the big 30-year-old right-hander owns a disappointing 4.12 ERA over 59 innings in 2024 following a career season in 2023, his 44:4 K:BB across 10 starts means Eflin needs to be stashed in fantasy leagues of all shapes and sizes.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin (back) was seen playing catch on May 26, per MLB.com. Eflin was placed on the injured list on May 20 due to experiencing discomfort on his start on May 18 in Toronto. The 30-year-old compared this injury to similar lower back tightness he dealt with last April that forced him to miss two weeks. Manager Kevin Cash said he expects his ace to return to the mound in "two to four weeks." While it is an excellent sign to see Eflin playing catch and not experiencing any setbacks, he might need to speed up his recovery to meet the projected return date slightly. Eflin looked quite strong in his Tampa Bay debut last summer with a 3.50 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 186:24 K:BB ratio. However, he did get off to a slow start this spring with a 4.12 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP. Nonetheless, he should remain stashed in all formats as he should return to his 2023 form after he recovers from this minor setback.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin (back) said his back issue popped up near the end of his last start and feels similar to last year, when he missed around two weeks with a similar back injury. Manager Kevin Cash said it was an unfortunate injury but also considers it similar to last year, although the skipper did say he thought it could be two to four weeks this year. The Rays put the 30-year-old on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a lower-back injury. Eflin had back issues toward the end of last year as well, so it's definitely something to be concerned about for fantasy managers that have him rostered. The former 33rd overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2012 won 16 games in his first year in Tampa in 2023 and had a career-best 3.50 ERA. Eflin deserves to be stashed in fantasy formats after starting 2024 with a 3-4 record, 4.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, four walks and 44 K's in 59 innings.
The Tampa Bay Rays placed Zach Eflin (back) on the 15-day injured list before the team's three-game set against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin likely injured his back in his most recent outing on May 18 against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he gave up four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts across six innings. The right-hander has struggled in the early part of the season, giving up at least three earned runs in four of his last five outings. He will now head to the IL with a 4.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts across 10 starts.
