Eflin looking forward to playoff chase with Orioles

BALTIMORE—Zach Eflin’s first game as a starter for the Orioles will be in Monday’s doubleheader, probably in the first game, and he can’t wait.

“Super excited. Just grateful for the opportunity,” Eflin said. “I’ve heard nothing but incredible things about this locker room, and playing against them the past year-and-a-half, you see the youth and how much they care about each other and how hard they play. I’ve always admired it over in Tampa. I’m excited to be in this position and play with these guys.”

On Friday, the Orioles obtained Eflin, a 30-year-old right-hander from Tampa Bay in exchange for three prospects. Eflin, who’s 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts, is known for his excellent control. He’s walked just over one batter per nine innings this season.

“I honestly just hate walks,” Eflin said. “I hate giving people a free pass. I feel like I’m not a competitor when I do that. With that being said, I think there is still room for me to expand a little more and be able to work out of the strike zone a little bit more. It really comes down to not letting guys take first base.”

Eflin, who has an $18 million contract for next season, had heard rumors he might be on the move.

“I was fully prepared,” he said. “I kind of knew something was going to go down. Really depended on how we played the past couple of weeks in Tampa. I was kept in the loop on everything. I really respect the Rays organization They kept me in the loop about what was going to happen.”

Eflin should slot behind Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez in the rotation, and hopes his attributes will help the team.

“Hopefully consistency and health, being able to pitch deep into games, feed off each other, being able to learn off of as many guys as possible and just be as much of a competitor as I can be.”

Eflin has a day to meet his teammates and learn the clubhouse and ballpark before he pitches on Monday against Toronto.

“Being able to meet everyone and getting to know the staff, getting on the same page, pitchability-wise, and what we’re trying to do, execution and everything, it’s going to be huge. It would be a little weird if I just showed up and pitched without knowing anybody, so it’s nice to see some familiar faces.”

Eflin pitched for Philadelphia from 2016-2022 and was a teammate of Seranthony Dominguez and Cole Irvin, and he’s from Orlando, so he knows Ryan Mountcastle.

“It’s been a little crazy,” Elfin said of the time since he was traded on Friday. The Rays had been on the road since the All-Star break, and he’d only had one day at home with his wife and three small girls.

Eflin will work with two new catchers, James McCann and Adley Rutschman.

“I feel like I’m pretty easy to catch, honestly,” Eflin said. “I have a lot of execution with catchers and what they call. As long as I execute a pitch, I feel like I’m going to get good results. I don’t hink there’s going to be a learning curve.”

Eflin’s glad to be coming from a team that’s now out of the playoff race to one that’s still in first place.

“You honestly dream about opportunities like this, to be able to be on a team in first place and battling out with another team,” Eflin said. “They’re coming fresh off a division title.

“We were in a huge race with them last year and weren’t able to get it. Winning baseball, competitive baseball, high energy baseball is what you always dream about as a player.”

To make room for Eflin on the roster, the Orioles optioned right-hander Bryan Baker to Triple-A Norfolk.