Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin (back) is going on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with lower back tightness. Pitching prospect Taj Bradley is being recalled from the minors in a corresponding move, and he'll make his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin is off to a good start in two outings for the Rays this year, allowing just four runs on 12 hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out 12 in 11 innings over two starts. Bradley is the team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and had allowed four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out eight in seven innings over his first two starts for Triple-A Durham. The 22-year-old hasn't gone deep in his two minor-league starts this year and probably won't be a very good streaming choice for fantasy managers this week, but his long-term upside is very high.

The Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal with free-agent right-hander Zach Eflin on Thursday. Eflin became a free agent this winter when he declined a $15 million mutual option to remain with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. Although he served as a bullpen piece for the Phillies in the postseason, Eflin projects to be a significant piece of Tampa's starting rotation next year. The 28-year-old made only 20 appearances (13 starts) for Philly this year due to injuries, and he posted a 4.04 ERA (3.56 FIP), a 1.12 WHIP, his first career save, 65 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 75 2/3 innings pitched. Eflin was much more effective as a reliever in 2022 (1.17 ERA, 0.522 WHIP) in 7 2/3 regular season innings.

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin has reportedly declined his $15 million option and will become a free agent, according to a tweet from The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Monday. The 28-year-old made 20 appearances for the Phillies, 13 of which were starts. He logged a 4.04 ERA and a 3.56 FIP in 75 2/3 innings while also turning in 65 strikeouts and allowing 15 walks. What's more, Eflin registered three wins and a save in his 20 appearances.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin picked up the first save of his career in Monday's 3-0 win over the Astros. Eflin entered the game to pitch the ninth inning up by three and delivered a 1-2-3 inning with no strikeouts. The 28-year-old started the season in the Phillies rotation but has pitched out of the bullpen since returning from the injured list after recovering from a knee injury. Eflin now has a 3-5 record over 20 appearances (13 starts) with a 4.04 ERA. His fantasy value in 2023 will depend on his role with whatever team he ends up on.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zach Eflin (knee) will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He'll start the game but treat it like a relief appearance. Eflin will return to the major league roster this month and pitch out of the bullpen, so he won't be stretched out on his rehab assignment. The 28-year-old won't be an option in fantasy the rest of the way as a relief option for the Phillies. Before his injury, Eflin went 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 56 strikeouts and 15 walks in 68 innings over just 13 starts. He wasn't much of a fantasy option to begin with, outside of deeper leagues, and he can be ignored the rest of the way.

The Philadelphia Phillies moved starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and claimed left-hander Andrew Vasquez off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays in a corresponding move. Vasquez was then optioned to Triple-A. Eflin won't be able to return to the Phillies starting rotation until the final week of August now. The 28-year-old right-hander had a 4.37 ERA (3.84 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 56 strikeouts and 15 walks in 68 innings over his 13 starts before getting injured in June. When healthy, Eflin doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside given his career 19.6% strikeout rate, but he'll slot back into the back end of Philadelphia's rotation when he's ready.

The Philadelphia Phillies provided an update on injured starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) on Friday. The team stated that the bruise on the fat pad under his right kneecap is no longer an issue. However, he is now dealing with patellofemoral pain in his knee. The team will be treating the condition "aggressively" with the goal to strengthen the area around his knee. He will be able to play catch while he receives the treatment, but he won't be able to pitch off a mound. While he remains without a timetable, the team "fully expects" for him to pitch again this year.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) has received a cortisone shot in his right knee. Eflin was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right knee bruise this past Tuesday and the move was retroactive to June 26. He originally stated that he'd be able to return after the minimum 15 days. However, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Eflin's cortisone shot makes it more likely that he'll be out for more than the minimum 15 days. Left-hander Bailey Falter will be taking Eflin's spot in the rotation, starting with Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Falter has made seven appearances (three starts) this year and has pitched to a 4.50 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (knee) was limited to just two innings in his start against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. He has been dealing with a right knee injury lately. Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson stated after the game that Eflin had been running around a lot in the first two innings and looked "a little ginger walking around" so he opted to remove him from the game as a precaution. Thomson added that Eflin's velocity was good in the game and that Eflin himself wanted to stay in the game. Overall, neither Thomson nor Eflin appear to be overly concerned about the injury. The plan is for Eflin to be reevaluated on Tuesday. After that, we should have a better idea of whether he'll be able to make his next scheduled start against the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

The Philadelphia Phillies have reinstated starting pitcher Zach Eflin from the COVID-19 injured list. He will start Tuesday night's game against the San Diego Padres. Eflin tested positive for COVID-19 on May 8 and had been away from the team ever since. The 28-year-old has made five starts so far this year and he's gone 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin (illness) hopes to return from the COVID-19 injured list and start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres. The 28-year-old is feeling better and is expected to return next week. He has been sidelined since May 8th after being placed on the injured list Sunday. The right-hander owns a 4.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and an 18:5 K: BB across 24 innings in 2022. Eflin can be used as a streamer in deep-league formats if he's activated ahead of Tuesday's game against the Padres.

The Philadelphia Phillies placed pitchers Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin on the COVID injured list Sunday. Philadelphia called up Francisco Morales and Connor Brogdon in a corresponding move. Wheeler was scheduled to start Monday's game against the Seattle Mariners, but it's unclear when he will return to the mound; the 31-year-old has thrown 13 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out 14 over his last two starts. Eflin was scheduled to start Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader versus the New York Mets. It's unclear if either pitcher tested positive for COVID-19 or is a close contact. Fantasy managers will need to adjust their lineups accordingly.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin struggled early during Friday's loss to the Miami Marlins. Eflin allowed four earned runs through his first two innings of work. However, he settled down after that, but only went four innings on Friday. The Phillies continue to have Eflin on a pitch count as he is returning from knee surgery. Fantasy managers haven't seen great results from Elfin through two starts. However, he should have more value once he's able to pitch deeper into games.

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.