The Orioles go for a series win behind a reactivated Zach Eflin.
The Orioles appear to be more like insects right now than birds because lately, players have been dropping like flies. Last night, starter Dean Kremer had to exit early after taking a line drive off the forearm (X-rays came back negative) and third baseman Ramón Urías was on crutches after the game with a sprained ankle.
Hooray, Zach Eflin has been reactivated off the injured list! He was removed from a scheduled start on August 20 with a sore shoulder and it appears the Orioles felt he was ready to go without a rehab start. In four starts since being acquired by the Orioles at the trade deadline, Eflin has been brilliant: he’s 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA. We desperately need him to continue to be this guy.
The Rockies were supposed to pitch Cal Quantrill this afternoon, but they’ve gone with former Oriole Ty Blach instead. The 33-year-old left hander, whose last name and 11.32 ERA in five games for Baltimore in 2019 made it all-too-easy to call him “Ty Blech,” didn’t pitch in the bigs in ’20-’21 but has made double-digit appearances with Colorado in each season since ’22. In 18 appearances this year (ten starts), he’s 3-6 with a 6.36 ERA and an opposing .955 OPS.
In two games this series the Orioles have scored eight runs off Colorado starters, but could be doing better. Can we please hit this guy?
Against the lefty, the Orioles are going heavily right-handed, with Austin Slater hitting leadoff, newcomer Eloy Jiménez and Emmanuel Rivera at DH and first, respectively, and Coby Mayo, called up a day ago, getting the start at third base in place of the ailing Ramón Urías. Let’s hope he can do to Ty Blach what he’s done to Triple-A pitching all year.
Orioles lineup
- Austin Slater LF (R)
2. Anthony Santander RF (S)
3. Gunnar Henderson SS (L)
4. Eloy Jiménez DH (R)
5. Emmanuel Rivera 1B (R)
6. Coby Mayo 3B (R)
7. Cedric Mullins CF (L)
8. James McCann C (R)
9. Jackson Holliday 2B (L)
Rockies lineup
-
Ezequiel Tovar SS (R)
2. Brendan Rodgers 2B (R)
3. Ryan McMahon 3B (L)
4. Brenton Doyle CF (R)
5. Michael Toglia 1B (S)
6. Nolan Jones DH (L)
7. Jake Cave RF (L)
8. Jordan Beck LF (R)
9. Drew Romo C (S)