Orioles starter Zach Eflin will undergo an MRI on his right elbow Wednesday and be placed on the injured list for the fourth time since the beginning of last season.

Eflin was removed from tonight’s game with two outs in the fourth inning due to right elbow discomfort. Eflin walked the Rangers’ Evan Carter, threw one pitch to Ezequiel Duran and left with head athletic trainer Scott Barringer.

“He said he felt it a few pitches before that,” manager Craig Albernaz said after an 8-5 loss at Camden Yards. “Eflin, he’s gonna get evaluated tomorrow, get imaging tomorrow, but more than likely it’ll be an IL.”

Pitching coach Drew French checked on Eflin after the walk to Carter and reliever Grant Wolfram began to warm.

“He said he felt something and that’s why we got Wolfie going,” Albernaz said. “And then you saw the next pitch and I was like, ‘No, we’re gonna make a move here.’”

Eflin underwent surgery on his back in August, with tonight marking his return. The Orioles signed him to a $10 million contract in late December that included a mutual option.

One of the most popular players in the clubhouse is out indefinitely, and everyone hurts.

“Yeah, I feel for Zach,” Albernaz said. “Everything he went through last year, works his butt off this offseason, back surgery, he looked great in camp, did everything that he could do and beyond, and something like that. The whole coaching staff, the whole team, you just feel for him, heart hurts for him. You never want to see anything happen to any player, especially someone like Zach.”

“That’s tough,” said first baseman Pete Alonso. “Any time you see any one of your guys feel something barking, it’s always you’re hoping for the best and that, it straight-up stinks. Ef’s a good dude and a really, really hard worker. I mean, he’s a guy who I hope everything is OK. Hopefully, cause we need him, for sure.”

The Orioles could recall Dean Kremer, who’s supposed to start Friday for Triple-A Norfolk. Kremer can return early if he’s replacing an injured player.

“We’re talking through everything right now,” Albernaz said when asked about Kremer.

Multiple moves could be coming or the Orioles could do something else to aid a bullpen that’s taxed after only five games due to the short starts and some ineffectiveness. Relievers were charged tonight with seven runs.

“We’ll make the corresponding move and it’ll help out the bullpen,” Albernaz said.

“Obviously the ‘pen’s running hot.”

Yaramil Hiraldo has surrendered a home run in back-to-back appearances. Danny Jansen had a three-run shot in the seventh inning.

“Just command,” Albernaz said. “It was one of those things where, going into that outing we wanted him to go two because we needed it, and then the efficiency wasn’t there, and we didn’t want (Anthony) Nunez to go two coming into the game just because the ‘pen’s running hot, but the position that we were in.”

Nunez retired the side in order in the eighth and allowed a home run to Corey Seager leading off the ninth.

“Nunie to his credit again he looked great out there throwing strikes and inducing weak contact,” Albernaz said. “But yeah, when you’re in a position like that, it’s kind of piecemeal trying to get the game together. But outside of that, our offense did a great job of keeping us in it. They didn’t give anything away, even down to the final outs.”

Alonso hit his first home run with the Orioles to tie the game 1-1 in the fourth. Taylor Ward produced his first career four-hit game, including a two-out, two-run double in the ninth. Gunnar Henderson had a two-run double in the fifth for a 3-3 tie.

“It was great to see Pete. It was good to see him get into one. I’m sure he felt good to kind of get that,” Albernaz said.

“Honestly, up and down the lineup , it was a really good day offensively, great at-bats. Wardy, his at-bats have been great. Now he got some results today. Gunnar with a great at-bat in a clutch situation. Adley (Rutschman), great at-bats, really good game up and down offensively for us. That’s something with our group. They feel like they’re always in it. They compete to the last out. That’s something they can hang their hat on.”

Alonso’s homer came against close friend and former Mets teammate Jacob deGrom. He also singled in the first inning.

“Felt good. Felt really good today,” Alonso said.

“I’m glad to get the first one out of the way and the swing felt really good today and I’m glad to connect with one, especially in that spot in the ballgame, tie it back up and get us back in there.

“He’s one of the best to ever do it. And, yeah, I’m just really, really pleased that today was my day, but I know that most days, not as fortunate. He’s one of the best to do it. I’m happy it went in my favor today.”

There wasn’t much joy for the Orioles on a night when they lost a game and Eflin.

“I think obviously everyone is feeling for Zach right now,” Albernaz said, “but at the end of the day, there’s a game tomorrow and then there’s a game the next day, and our guys, we want what’s best for Zach, whatever that is, whatever that looks like, and we know that he’ll be here with us,” Albernaz said.

“Hopefully we’ll see what happens tomorrow with the imaging. But I think when you see one of your guys, you know what he’s been through, you know the person he is, yeah it’s tough, but our guys will respond tomorrow.”

Update: The Orioles are prepared to select Albert Suárez’s contract from Norfolk, according to a source.

Suárez can provide length and a fresh arm for a tired bullpen. The Orioles signed him to a minor league deal and he must be added to the 40-man roster.

The club can designate a player for assignment or transfer Jordan Westburg to the 60-day injured list.

We’ll find out later if there’s another move come with Eflin headed to the IL.

The Baltimore Sun first reported the news on Suárez.