Rays' Zach Eflin: Throws six scoreless innings in win
Rotowire
Eflin (4-5) earned the win against the Nationals on Friday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out six over six scoreless innings.
Eflin threw 66 of 93 pitches for strikes and earned his first victory since May 13 and first quality start since May 7. The 30-year-old has now recorded at least six strikeouts over each of his past three outings and has only walked three batters in 28.1 June innings. On the season, Eflin owns a 3.92 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 69:7 K:BB over 87.1 innings and lines up to face the Royals next week.
Eflin (3-5) took the loss Saturday as the Rays were downed 4-3 by the Pirates, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out six.
Pittsburgh stung the right-hander for a run in the first inning and three more in the third, and while Eflin settled in after that, the Tampa Bay offense wasn't able to put together a comeback. Eflin's last quality start came May 7, and in six outings since then, he's stumbled to a 4.86 ERA despite a 1.17 WHIP and 24:2 K:BB in 33.1 innings. He'll look to turn things around in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Nationals.
Eflin did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against Atlanta. He struck out seven.
Eflin entered the sixth inning with a four-run lead, but after retiring the first two batters in the frame, he allowed four consecutive singles and was removed one out shy of completing six full innings. The seven strikeouts marked a season high for Eflin, who had failed to record more than three strikeouts during any of his previous five starts. He'll carry a 4.12 ERA and 1.17 WHIP into his next start, currently slated to take place over the weekend when the Rays travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates.
