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Zach Eflin will undergo lower back surgery on Monday, which should lead to a four-to-eight month recovery period.
"I think it really all depends on how the post-op stuff goes, how everything responds and how my body's moving post-surgery," he said today. "I don't expect not to be ready for spring training. From what I've heard from the surgeon, after 12 weeks I'm able to have a normal offseason, so I'm pretty optimistic it's not gonna be a long thing."
Eflin said he’s experienced back pain randomly for the past five or six years and is looking forward to the lumbar microdiscectomy, which relieves pressure on a spinal nerve caused by a herniated disc.
“It’s just gotten progressively worse,” he said. “A couple months ago an MRI was a little worse than it was previously and just seems like the disc is in a place where it’s kind of pushing against my nerve and it’s just not going away. Tried an epidural, didn’t really work, so I think the next step is just to get it taken care of, and hopefully be ready for spring training.”
Eflin said “all signs” point to the surgery bringing a permanent resolution.
“I think it’s more so gonna be how much I stay on top of the rehab for it and the core work that goes along with it, it’s gonna be a huge part of my career moving forward,” he said. “But everything I’ve read and have seen other guys go through it, it more so takes all their pain away as long as they stay on top of the core work and stuff.
“I think this has really only fueled me to play longer because I wasn’t happy about this year and it’s been pretty much the past five or six years I’ve had a tight back most of the year every year, so I’m excited to see what that feels like to kind of pitch without having to think about other things.”
Eflin started twice in July after returning from the IL, allowing two runs and two hits in five innings in Cleveland and four runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 against the Blue Jays. The discomfort wasn’t steady but never went away.
“It’s a really weird thing because it kind of goes back and forth, in and out,” he said. “The Cleveland start pretty much felt normal, as normal as it could be, and then that last start that I had was not necessarily comfortable at all. So it’s just weird how it has the flare-ups and then it just doesn’t go away, or it feels good for a couple days and then it comes back, so I think the smart thing to do is just get it taken care of.”
Eflin made three stops on the injured list this season, the last two for his back, and posted a 5.93 ERA and 1.416 WHIP in 14 starts.
“I think for me personally it’s been disappointing, depressing,” said Eflin, who was chosen as the Opening Day starter.
“I just tried to throw a baseball that I wasn’t necessarily comfortable all the time, and it’s not a really good place to be. It’s something I look back and I don’t like thinking back on it because I didn’t necessarily feel good at times when I threw, but I also didn’t pitch well at the same time. I feel like I owed this team a lot more than I gave them, but at the end of the day I’ve got to take care of my back, I’ve got to get something done. I’ve got to get it healthy again and show up next year ready to go.”
Eflin will become a free agent and might circle back to the Orioles. He’s open to the idea.
They could make him a qualifying offer, decide to negotiate their own one-year deal with a lesser base salary and incentives or cut ties.
“I love this clubhouse,” he said. “I’ve told pretty much everybody that we’ve had a conversation about that, I told them I love this place and I’d love to be here. We’re gonna get the operation done and kind of see where that takes us.”
Wherever he lands, he should be able to lead more of a normal life with the back pain removed. The restrictions impacted him at home with his four children.
“That was another big reason why I wanted to get this done, because it doesn’t necessarily only affect me here,” he said. “I’ve got to be a dad, I’ve got to be able to pick up my kids and stuff. So I think with this operation it’s gonna help me be a better dad, too.”
Trevor Rogers makes his 11th start tonight. He’s posted a 1.44 ERA and 0.834 WHIP in 62 1/3 innings, and he’s entered the conversation for the Most Valuable Oriole award.
Rogers has made one career start against Seattle and allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings. Randy Arozarena is 3-for-6 with two home runs.
The Orioles have been held to 17 hits in their last four games. They’ve been shut out 13 times, most in the American League and one behind the Pirates.
The roster shuffling has caused the Orioles to use 15 outfielders this season.
Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert has posted a 3.35 ERA and 0.984 WHIP in 16 starts. He’s struck out 118 batters in 83 1/3 innings.
Gilbert missed almost two months with a right elbow flexor strain. He has a 2.22 ERA and 0.703 WHIP in 10 home starts and a 5.28 ERA and 1.467 WHIP in six road starts.
Gilbert is making his third career start against the Orioles. He’s allowed five runs in 12 1/3 innings.
Seattle has won eight in a row and 10 of 11 and is a season-high 14 above .500 at 67-53 to create a first-place tie with the Astros in the American League West.
Reliever Houston Roth cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. Roth spent six days with the Orioles but didn’t pitch.
Right-hander Trey Gibson, a Virginia native and the Orioles’ No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline, makes his Triple-A debut tonight in Jacksonville.
Gibson had a 1.55 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 10 starts with Double-A Chesapeake, with 68 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings.
Catcher Samuel Basallo, the No. 1 prospect in the system, is celebrating his 21st birthday.
The Orioles haven't posted their lineup.
For the Mariners
Randy Arozarena LF
Cal Raleigh C
Julio Rodríguez CF
Eugenio Suárez 3B
Josh Naylor 1B
Mitch Garver DH
Jorge Polanco 2B
J.P. Crawford SS
Dylan Moore RF
Logan Gilbert RHP
* Colton Cowser is eligible to leave the concussion injured list Thursday but won’t be reinstated.
“A little bit sorer than we probably anticipated,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino. “I don’t see it being too long. Still going through concussion protocol. But I think in the near future we’ll see him here in a major league game.
Another outfielder, Tyler O’Neill, remains on the 10-day IL with inflammation his right wrist.
“Probably a little bit longer than we initially expected,” Mansolino said. “My guess is, if we see him at the end of August it would be really good, but I would probably anticipate more early September, and the longer it goes, the more likely we’ll have to send him out to get a couple at-bats before he plays in a big league game.”
Daniel Johnson makes his first start tonight.
For the Orioles
Jackson Holliday 2B
Jordan Westburg 3B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Ryan Mountcastle DH
Ryan Noda RF
Coby Mayo 1B
Daniel Johnson CF
Dylan Carlson LF
Trevor Rogers LHP
