The Philadelphia Phillies are encouraged by starting pitcher Zach Eflin's (knee) progress this spring, according to general manager Dave Dombrowski. There are still some hurdles for Eflin to clear, but barring any setbacks, he could be ready for Opening Day. The 27-year-old right-hander has been throwing off a mound after undergoing surgery to fix a patellar tendon in his right knee last September. With a truncated spring training due to the lockout, however, fantasy managers should expect Eflin to be very limited at the beginning of the 2022 season, even if he doesn't have any setbacks this spring. In 18 starts last year before his injury, Eflin went 4-7 with a 4.17 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 99 strikeouts and 16 walks in 105 2/3 innings pitched for the Phils.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) has been placed on the 60-day injured list and is scheduled to have surgery on Friday to replace his right patellar tendon, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported on Wednesday. Eflin hasn't taken the mound since mid-July due to setbacks with his injured knee, last going 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the Miami Marlins. Recovery time for the surgery is 6-8 months, so it is unlikely the 27-year-old right-hander will be back in the starting rotation until after the start of the 2022 season.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) was activated from the injured list on Thursday and was set to start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he was scratched due to a flare-up of his balky right knee, according to manager Joe Girardi. Left-hander Matt Moore started the game instead. It's unclear if Eflin will go right back on the injured list, but it's obviously not a good sign. The right-hander has been out since July 20 with patellar tendinitis, and he's posted a 4.17 ERA in 14 starts for the Phils in 2021. The 27-year-old will obviously be a very risky fantasy starter whenever he makes his next start in the big leagues, and fantasy managers in deeper leagues might have to wait at least another 10 days.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) will come off the injured list and start on Thursday versus the Diamondbacks, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Eflin has been sidelined since July 20 with inflammation in his knee. The right-hander couldn't back up his breakout 2020 season as he stumbled to a 4-7 record with a 4.17 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 105 2/3 innings before landing on the IL. Eflin could help fantasy managers down the stretch, however, as his 3.61 xFIP and 3.80 SIERA imply he's been a bit unlucky in the ERA department. He'll ease back into the schedule as he's lined up to face the Diamondbacks and Nationals in his first two outings. Fantasy managers should look to add Eflin for those matchups.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) is scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Reading, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Eflin is scheduled to throw around 35 pitches, or two to three innings, according to Phillies general manager Sam Fuld. Fuld added that if all goes well Eflin's next start could be in the Majors, which would be a welcome addition to a Phillie team in need of starting pitching. Eflin has not pitched since July 20. Fantasy managers should add Eflin now as he can be an asset down the stretch.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Reading on Saturday. The right-hander has been sidelined since July 20 due to patellar tendinitis. When healthy, Eflin has posted a 4.17 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 109 innings with the Phillies. He is certainly a bit better than his numbers show and has been an asset to the Phillies rotation. Fantasy managers should continue holding Eflin since it sounds like he could return before the end of August.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) threw what manager Joe Girardi described as a "light side" session on Monday. It was the first throwing Eflin did since mid-July when he landed on the injured list with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Girardi said Eflin will throw a longer and more intense bullpen session before facing live hitters or being sent on a rehab assignment. Eflin posted a 4.17 ERA in 18 starts before landing on the IL, but he has been a tad unlucky as evidenced by his 3.61 xFIP and 3.79 SIERA. Fantasy managers with free IL spots should consider stashing Eflin for the stretch run.

RHP Zach Eflin (right shoulder strain) was transferred from the 10-day DL to the 60-day DL on Tuesday. He's expected to miss the remainder of the season. This year, his second in the Majors, Eflin is 1-5 with a 6.16 ERA in 11 starts.

RHP Zach Eflin (right shoulder strain) has been on the disabled list since Aug. 22. But manager Pete Mackanin said Thursday it is not a sure thing he is done for the year. "We will have to see about that," Mackanin said. He has made 11 starts this year and is 1-5 after he made 11 starts last year in his first big league season.

RHP Zach Eflin was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain, retroactive to Saturday. Elfin (1-5, 6.16 ERA) last pitched Friday, allowing six runs in five innings in San Francisco.

RHP Zach Eflin experienced tightness behind his pitching shoulder during Friday's loss to the San Francisco Giants. Eflin said the minor pain was not a factor in another subpar effort, one in which he allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings. He was pulled after five innings, having thrown 86 pitches, as a precaution.

RHP Zach Eflin will hook up with another struggling starter, LHP Matt Moore, when he faces the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. Eflin (5.76) and Moore (5.71) ranks 19th and 20th, respectively, in highest ERA among all major-leaguers with 10 or more starts this season. Eflin has pitched only slightly better in two career starts against the Giants, going 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA.

RHP Zach Eflin learned the hard way just how powerful the New York Mets can be at the plate. Eflin allowed four runs on two home runs and fell to 1-4 on the year in a 6-2 Phillies loss Sunday. Eflin was smacked around for seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five.

RHP Zach Eflin pitched seven strong innings Tuesday night in the Phillies 5-2 victory over the Braves after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He allowed two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk. He also went 1-for-3 with an RBI at the plate. Eflin (1-3) won for the first time since July 22, 2016, against Pittsburgh. He improved to 2-0 with a 1.57 in three career starts against Atlanta.

The Philadelphia Phillies' pitching staff absorbed yet another blow on Tuesday when rookie right-hander Zach Eflin was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to patellar tendinitis in both knees.The injury to Eflin comes less than one week after the Phillies placed right-hander Aaron Nola on the disabled list with a right elbow strain.Eflin, who owns a 3-5 mark and 5.54 ERA this season, was shelled for seven runs on as many hits in three innings Monday during a 9-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 22-year-old has struggled in each of his last three starts since tossing a three-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 22.Dealing with the injury is nothing new to Eflin."I've kind of gone through it every single season," Eflin told Philly.com. "It's more of a thing where sometimes it's a little worse; sometimes it's better than other days. You kind of wake up and see how you feel."Left-hander Adam Morgan and right-hander David Buchanan are two potential candidates to be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Eflin in the rotation.For the short term, the Phillies filled the roster vacancy by recalling left-handed reliever Elvis Araujo from Lehigh Valley. Araujo was with Philadelphia for one day last week before being optioned to the minors. In 28 major league relief appearances this year, he is 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA.

Eflin has been working with Double-A Reading pitching coach Dave Lundquist on throwing his slider with more consistency, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. "I think the biggest thing is I have to learn how to put guys away and how to throw it for strikes," Eflin said. "I've been doing a better job of that this season, and I just have to keep building on it to make it a good pitch."

Eflin's slider is already pretty good, but being able to throw it consistently is the key. He uses the pitch as a compliment to his four-seam and two-seam fastballs which range from 89 to 95 mph. He is 5-4 with a 2.76 ERA and a 39:16 K:BB ratio in 78.1 innings this season. The lack of strikeouts limit Eflin's upside as a fantasy asset, but, given his stuff, there is a chance he be able to increase his strikeout rate a bit down the line. He is just 21-years-old, making him one of the youngest players at the Double-A level.

Eflin had his start skipped Saturday to give him extra rest, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Phillies likely want to limit Eflin's innings. He has thrown 61.1 innings through 10 starts this season which puts him on pace to easily exceed the 128 innings he threw last season. He is 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA.

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Eflin will not be rushed through the minors despite his success at Double-A Reading this season, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Eflin, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Jimmy Rollins trade this past offseason, is 4-3 with a 2.28 ERA and a 23:9 K:BB ratio in 51.1 innings this season.