BALTIMORE—Oriole starter Zach Eflin, who left after one inning on Saturday with lower back tightness, reported that his back was “stiff” on Sunday morning.
“I did it in the pregame bullpen and felt it the whole time,” Eflin said. He said he’s had back issues in the past, but not this year.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino predicted that Eflin would end up on the injured list.
“I think most likely it’s trending towards an IL here in the next 24 hours, would be my guess, if I had a guess on it,” Mansolino said. “Depending on how the day goes, we’ll make the next move in accordance with that.”
It’s possible the Orioles will recall Brandon Young from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Eflin in the starting rotation. Young was optioned on Thursday and can only be recalled if replacing a player on the injured list.
The Orioles had to cover eight innings in the bullpen, and Eflin felt an obligation to pitch on Saturday even after his back tightened up in the bullpen.
“Absolutely, that’s what we do as starters,” Eflin said. “I knew something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t necessarily blindside him like that. I was able to deliver a pitch.
“It wasn’t comfortable, but it gets to a point where once you stop moving around, it just locks up and tightens up and then you can’t really do much about it at that point, just tried to keep moving as much from the bullpen into the game. I was able to deliver pitches.”
Needing an extra bullpen arm, the Orioles selected the contract of right-hander Matt Bowman from Norfolk. They optioned right-hander Kade Strowd to the Tides and designated right-handed pitcher Luis F. Castillo for assignment. Castillo, who was purchased from Seattle on May 8th, had been on the 7-day Norfolk injured list. He pitched twice for the Florida Complex League Orioles.
Mansolino used infielder Luis Vázquez for two scoreless innings on Saturday.
“We actually came out of that thing as good as you can yesterday,” Mansolino said. “Thanks to Vázquez, position players pitching, there is some value to it if it doesn’t turn in 40 points up on the scoreboard at the end of the day.”
Bowman was 0-1 with a 4.57 ERA in 18 games earlier this season, and was 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA and a save in eight games at Norfolk. Strowd had a 4.15 ERA in three games.
“What if there’s another injury today? You’ve got to be able to cover the game,” Mansolino said, explaining the move.
Westburg getting closer: Jordan Westburg’s sprained left index finger is improving, though he’s not in Sunday’s lineup.
“He’s going to grab a bat at some point this morning, swing it,” Mansolino said. “I hope that obviously goes well. If so, we’ll definitely see him in one of these first two games in Texas.”
Rutschman on the mend: Catcher Adley Rutschman, who went on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique muscle on June 21st, is playing catch but hasn’t swung, yet.
Mansolino said that because he injured himself swinging a bat, he’ll be able to throw before he hits.
“The next thing will be swinging the bat,” Mansolino said.
Rutschman doesn’t like being idle.
“It’s the worst, 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 trying to be as good of a teammate as I can be right now, support the guys.”
Mansolino predicted last week that Rutschman would be back after the All-Star break.
“I want to be back as quick as possible,” Rutschman said. “I don’t know exactly what that looks like. I’m not a medical expert. I’m just trying to do everything to get back as quick as possible.”
Rutschman is going over scouting reports, talking to as many players as he can to feel involved, but his first stint on the injured list isn’t a pleasant one.
“It feels like we’re doing everything we can right now to heal up as fast as possible,” he said.
Rutschman has plenty of time to think.
“Probably too much time. I get to watch and think and just process everything over and over, which is probably not a good thing,” he said. “I’m trying to have as many conversations as possible and talk with guys and not seclude myself during this time.”
Maverick Handley, who served as Rutschman’s backup when Gary Sánchez was on the injured list, is on the 7-day concussion injured list.
“It’s going to be a little while,” Mansolino said. “He’s had multiple concussions in the past. There’s a lot of literature on that. We’ve got to be smart.”
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected].
