Comparing the O's before and after the last 30 games (plus notes on Eflin and Etzel)

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This stat has been pointed out a few times, but even in going 12-18 the last 30 games, the Orioles gained ground on the Yankees. Yes, that is crazy.

On June 20, before the last 30 games, the Orioles were 49-25 (.662) yet a 1/2 game out of first place. Since June 21, even in losing 18 of 30, the O's still lead the American League East by one game after their loss yesterday and the Yankees' 10-inning victory last night.

The games, beyond the stats, tell us that the Yankees have played poor ball for a long time too. But the Orioles' play has fallen. here is a statistical look:

Here are some O's team stats through June 20 and where they ranked in the major leagues:

* 5.27 runs per game (1)
* OPS of .769 (2)
* Slugging .456 (1)
* Home runs per game 1.61 (1)
* Team ERA 3.13 (tied for 1st)
* OPS against .632 (1)
* 0.83 HRs allowed per nine innings (2)

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Updating Mateo injury and Orioles' rotation

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Jorge Mateo has his left elbow in a brace and no further updates on his health.

Mateo suffered a transient dislocation Tuesday in a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson during a 6-3 loss to the Marlins. He needs to undergo further testing but the Orioles are waiting for the swelling to go down.

“It was a difficult moment when I saw and felt my arm bend that way,” Mateo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Yeah, just a difficult moment for me, for the team, for my family.”

Surgery is a possibility but the medical staff is collecting more information.

“We still don’t have anything concrete,” Mateo said. “We’re still waiting for the team to ultimately make a decision and see what happens from there.”

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Another frustrating night in Birdland, plus more on the trades

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We have seen the Orioles go 20-9 this year versus the American League East. We have seen them produce nine straight winning months, the longest current active streak in the majors. Since the start of 2023, Baltimore is 162-102 (.614), and that is the best win percentage in the majors in that span.

In the span of four series in June we saw the Orioles sweep four in a row at Tampa Bay and win consecutive series against Atlanta, Philadelphia and the New York Yankees.

But since they capped that four-series run by beating the Yankees 17-5, it has turned for the worse. And the Orioles can't seem to turn it back.

Since June 21 they look nothing like a playoff team. They have two five-game losing streaks in this stretch and in their most recent five games, they are 1-4.

That is a mark of 12-17 and a -41 run differential since that June day.

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More on today's trades and reactions from the Orioles

cowser @ BOS

The trade deadline doesn’t arrive until Tuesday at 6 p.m., but the Orioles got aggressive today. They found the opportunities to strike and didn’t let them pass.

They latched onto a starter under team control beyond 2024 who didn’t cost one of their top prospects. They strengthened their bullpen and added a plus defender for the outfield.

The total cost was outfielder Austin Hays and minor leaguers Jackson Baumeister, Mac Horvath and Matthew Etzel.

Hays went to the Phillies for reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. The Orioles later announced that they acquired Zach Eflin from the Rays.

Eflin will report this weekend. Domínguez and Pache arrived at Camden Yards this afternoon.

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Orioles acquire Eflin from Rays for three minor leaguers (updated)

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The Orioles made their move for a starting pitcher on a busy day of roster shakeups.

An industry source confirmed that right-hander Zach Eflin, 30, has been acquired from the Rays for minor league pitcher Jackson Baumeister, outfielder Matthew Etzel and infielder/outfielder Mac Horvath. MLB Pipeline ranks Horvath as the No. 10 prospect in the system and Baumeister at No. 17.

Eflin, who’s under team control for $18 million next season, has posted a 4.09 ERA and 1.164 WHIP in 19 starts with only 13 walks in 110 innings. He went 16-8 last season with a 3.50 ERA and 1.024 WHIP in 31 starts and finished sixth in Cy Young voting in the American League.

This is the controllable starter that the Orioles sought without surrendering one of their top prospects. And they might not be done.

The Padres made Eflin the 33rd-overall pick in the 2012 draft and traded him to the Dodgers two years later. He was flipped to the Phillies the next day in the Jimmy Rollins deal.

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