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The Baltimore Orioles are calling up pitcher Albert Suarez after Zach Eflin’s injury
After a big offseason of spending, the Baltimore Orioles have had an up and down start to the 2026 season. At the time of this writing, the Orioles have a 2-3 record and are third in the American League East. They have also lost each of their last two games, so they will be looking to get things back on track and avoid being swept by the Texas Rangers.
The Orioles’ last loss was particularly rough, as starting pitcher Zach Eflin was forced to leave in the fourth inning due to elbow discomfort. With Eflin being a key part of the Orioles’ rotation, it is undoubtedly concerning that the 6-foot-6 righty is already dealing with injury trouble this early into the season. He also had a solid first start before being forced to exit, as he allowed just one earned run and had seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched.
Now, in response to Eflin’s injury, the Orioles will be calling up a veteran pitcher from the minors.
Baltimore Orioles to Call Up Albert Suarez From Minors
According to The Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer, the Orioles will be calling up pitcher Albert Suarez from the minors.
“The Orioles are calling up Albert Suárez, per source, as the club is in need of bullpen help,” Meyer posted on X.
Seeing the Orioles call up Suarez is not necessarily surprising, as it is no secret that they could use another arm in their bullpen. As a result of this, the 6-foot-3 righty will once again be joining the Orioles’ major league roster and will be looking to make a big impact after getting another chance.
Suarez appeared in five games for the Orioles this past season, where he had a 2-0 record, a 2.31 ERA, and 10 strikeouts. This was after the 36-year-old pitcher had a 9-7 record, a 3.70 ERA, and 108 strikeouts for the Orioles during the 2024 season.
By calling up Suarez, the Orioles are adding a veteran pitcher who can work in both the bullpen and the starting rotation if needed. This helps make Suarez a solid depth pitcher to have around, and he will now be looking to shine with the Orioles after rejoining the major league roster.
In 77 career major league games split between the San Francisco Giants and the Orioles, Suarez has a 14-15 record, a 4.00 ERA, and 206 strikeouts. Out of his 77 major league appearances, 37 of them have been starts.
Orioles Expected to Place Zach Eflin on Injured List
According to Meyer, the Orioles are also expected to place Eflin on the injured list on Wednesday due to the injury he suffered in his start against the Rangers.
“Zach Eflin suffered an injury today and is expected to be placed on the IL tomorrow. The bullpen is taxed after covering 10 innings the past two days,” Meyer posted on X.
This is certainly rough injury news for the Orioles, as Eflin is a solid part of the team’s roster. Furthermore, it is never good to lose a pitcher this early in the season, and now the Orioles will be forced to adjust without the 6-foot-6 righty for the time being.
In 14 games last season for the Orioles, Eflin had a 6-5 record, a 5.93 ERA, and 50 strikeouts. This was after he had a 5-2 record and a 2.60 ERA in nine games for the Orioles in 2024.
Michael DeRosa Michael covers the NHL for Heavy.com. He has professionally covered the NHL since 2017 and has written for other publications like The Hockey News, BetMGM, Athlon Sports, and The Hockey Writers. More about Michael DeRosa
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