Eflin expected to go on injured list (plus other pregame notes)

The Orioles are losing another starting pitcher.

Zach Eflin is trending toward the injured list in the next 24 hours, according to interim manager Tony Mansolino. Eflin exited yesterday’s game after one inning with lower back tightness that he felt in the bullpen, and his condition didn’t improve this morning.

This would be Eflin’s second trip to the IL. He’s made only 12 starts and posted a 5.95 ERA and 1.435 WHIP in 62 innings.

“At that point, depending on how today goes, we’ll make the next move in accordance with that,” Mansolino said.

The Orioles could recall Brandon Young after optioning him on Friday.

Jordan Westburg is swinging a bat today and should avoid the injured list.

“I hope that obviously that goes well,” Mansolino said, “and if so, we’ll definitely see him one of these first games in Texas.”

Adley Rutschman, on the IL with a left oblique strain, played catch earlier today but isn’t cleared to swing. He felt the discomfort while taking batting practice in New York.

“Usually when you have an oblique or whatever we termed that thing, when you have one of those, it’s usually the thing that caused it,” Mansolino said. “So if you’re throwing, it’s gonna be hard to throw. If you’re hitting, it’s gonna be hard to hit. So it’s not abnormal to see him throw first and that not bother it. The next step will be swinging a bat.

“I think it will probably slow down a tick once he starts swinging the bat, but I do think we’re pretty optimistic that this will be on kind of the front end of what the estimate was in terms of the return.”

Rutschman is hopeful that he can return immediately after the All-Star break.

“I want to be back as quick as possible,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what that looks like. I’m not a medical expert. But I’m just trying to do everything to get back as quickly as possible.”

Rutschman was scratched from the lineup June 20. He’s batting .227/.319/.372 in 68 games.

“We’re doing everything we can to heal up as fast as possible,” he said.

This is Rutschman’s first career stop on the injured list and it's going about how you'd expect. 

“Oh, it’s the worst,” he said. “I want to be out there with the guys competing, but just trying to make the most of the day still. Help out where I can and just try to be as good of a teammate as I can be right now and support the guys.

“For me, just being in the cage with the guys, talking with them, talking with as many people as possible. Trying not to be in my own world. Just making sure to have conversations with as many people as possible, ask them how they’re doing. Go over scouting reports if I can, help out with those. And just asking guys what they need, anyway that I can help.”

Rutschman was hitting .309/.381/.509 with two doubles and three home runs in 15 June games before feeling a twinge in his side, pretty much the worst possible timing for a player who had labored at the plate for most of the first two months.

“I was, I guess, feeling better,” he said. “There’s never any ideal time to get injured, but that definitely wasn’t ideal. It’s tough. I want to be playing.”

Being hurt provides more opportunities to reflect on the Orioles’ season, which isn’t necessarily how Rutschman wants to spend his days.

“Probably too much time,” he said.

“I get to watch and think and process everything over and over, which I guess for me is probably not a good thing.”

Catcher Maverick Handley remains on the concussion injured list and will need more time to recover based on his history. Mansolino spoke with him yesterday.

“I think he’s gonna be in the building today, but it’s gonna be a little while,” Mansolino said. “He’s had multiple concussions in the past, so there’s a lot of literature out on that right now. We’ve got to be smart with him.”

The Orioles selected reliever Matt Bowman’s contract today from Triple-A Norfolk to provide coverage in the bullpen. They could use innings out of starter Dean Kremer.

“Day game Deano, man,” Mansolino said. “He throws great during the day for some reason, so we’re hoping that that kind of holds true today. He’s been really good here for a while. I think you guys can probably look at the numbers on that and see that, if you erase April, what his numbers would look like. I think we’d all be really impressed. One of the top 20-30 guys in the American League right now.”

Trevor Rogers, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano are starting in the Rangers’ series beginning Monday night in Arlington. They’ll oppose Patrick Corbin, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.

Double-A Chesapeake reinstated pitcher Trace Bright from the injured list.