BALTIMORE (AP) — Zach Eflin's first start since July lasted less than four innings.
The Baltimore right-hander was abruptly pulled from Tuesday night's game against the Texas Rangers in the fourth with right elbow discomfort. The Orioles went on to lose 8-5. Manager Craig Albernaz said afterward Eflin would have imaging Wednesday and would likely end up on the injured list.
“I feel for Zach. Everything he went through last year, works his butt off this offseason, back surgery, he looked great in camp,” Albernaz said. “Did everything that he could do and beyond, and something like that — the whole coaching staff, the whole team, we just feel for him.”
Eflin looked sharp for the most part, striking out seven in 3 2/3 innings and allowing only one run on a solo homer by Ezequiel Duran in the third. With two on and two out in the fourth, there was a meeting on the mound when Duran came to the plate again. Eflin threw one more pitch, a ball, and then there was another meeting — this one including Albernaz.
Eflin was lifted and replaced by reliever Grant Wolfram, who got the third out.
“He felt something, and that's why we got Wolfie going," Albernaz said. "And then we saw the next pitch, and I was like, ‘Nah, we’ve got to make a move here.'”
The Orioles re-signed Eflin to a one-year deal for $10 million this past offseason. It includes a $25 million mutual option or a $2 million buyout for 2027, with escalators for both: $1 million if he makes 15 starts this year, $1.5 million for 20 and $2.5 million for 25.
Eflin went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA during an injury-plagued 2025 for the Orioles, and his season ended early because of back issues.
If Eflin has to miss significant time, Dean Kremer is an option after he was sent down to start the season in the minors.
But it's a blow to the Orioles if they couldn't make it one time through the rotation without losing a starter.
“It's tough. Any time you see any one of your guys feel something barking, you're hoping for the best,” said slugger Pete Alonso, who hit his first homer as an Oriole on Tuesday. “It straight-up stinks. Zach's a good dude and a really, really hard worker. He's a guy that, I hope everything's OK.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored twice and hit the 30-goal mark for the 20th time in his NHL career, and the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Tom Wilson also had two goals, Jakob Chychrun had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Leonard added a goal and an assist. Pierre-Luc Dubois had three assists for the Capitals, who have won three straight as they try to climb back into playoff position.
Travis Sanheim, Carl Grundstrom, Christian Dvorak and Denver Barkey scored and Porter Martone made his NHL debut for the Flyers, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
Late in the first, Wilson’s shot from the slot made it 1-0 in his 900th career NHL game. Minutes later, Ovechkin cashed in Matt Roy’s cross-crease feed to extend Washington’s lead to 2-0.
Ovechkin has reached 30 goals in all but one season: the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, where he had 24 in 45 games.
The Flyers fought back to open the second, evening the score in a span of 4:36 minutes on a point shot from Sanheim and lay-up from Grundstrom. Washington didn’t take long to respond, though, as Chychrun’s one-timer on the power play made it 3-2. Leonard scored another power-play goal later in the period to put the Capitals back up by two.
While Dvorak pulled things to 4-3 to open the third, Ovechkin got to the front and buried a one-timer to restore the two-goal lead with his 928th career goal.
Barkey’s deflection brought the Flyers within one, but Washington and Thompson fended off a comeback effort while Wilson iced the win late with an empty-netter.
Thompson stopped 20 of 24 shots, and Dan Vladar had 12 saves on 17 shots.
Martone, who signed his entry-level contract on Sunday, led the Flyers with five shots on goal through nearly 17 minutes in his debut.
Flyers: Host Detroit on Thursday.
Capitals: Visit New Jersey on Thursday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae (36) collides with Washington Capitals left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Philadelphia Flyers center Denver Barkey (52) shoots the puck against Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scores a goal past Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
