Orioles to start RHP Zach Eflin on Wed.; C Adley Rutschman near return

The Baltimore Orioles will bring right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin back from the injured list Wednesday to start that night's game against the host Cleveland Guardians.

"Being on the IL here with the lower back strain, he's unhappy," O's interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters Tuesday. "Really optimistic about where he's at, where his mind is at. Looking forward to seeing him take the ball tomorrow."

Eflin, 31, last pitched June 28 against Tampa Bay before his IL stint, giving up four runs on five hits in one inning of work. In his first full season in Baltimore, he's 6-5 with a 5.95 ERA over 12 starts, with 42 strikeouts in 62 innings. For his career, he has gone 68-67 with a 4.27 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies (2016-22), Rays (2023-24) and Orioles.

Baltimore will need to make a corresponding roster move to fit Eflin back on the active roster.

Mansolino also said that their No. 1 catcher, Adley Rutschman, is nearing a return from a strained left oblique.

Rutschman made a rehab start at Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3. Mansolino told reporters he wants Rutschman to catch back-to-back games there before Baltimore activates him.

The former No. 1 overall draft pick, Rutschman is in his fourth big-league season and was batting .227 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 68 games before his injury. He last played for the Orioles on June 19.

--Field Level Media