Starter Spotlight: Zap Zach Eflin

6-22-24 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X

After a sub-par showing last night, the Pirates will look to regroup against veteran Zach Eflin, who enters today with a record of 3-4, 4.12 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in 74.1 innings pitched.

In his career against the Pirates, Eflin is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA in 3 games, including a 3-hit shutout in 2016 and 7 shutout frames last year. The Bucs will look to fare a bit better today.

Eflin spent most of his career with the Phillies before joining the Rays ahead of 2023. He has regressed a bit from his first year with Tampa last season which saw him post a career-best 3.50 ERA and league-leading 16 wins over 31 starts.

A big reason for that regression likely stems from his decreased strikeout rate, which dropped from a strong 26.5% down to a poor 18.4% while his batting average against has climbed from .234 to .270 this season.

Eflin’s arsenal consists of a low-90s sinker, a high-80s cutter and a high-70s – with less frequent low-80s sweeper, low-90s 4-seam and mid-80s changeup.

He works mostly sinker/curve against RHH while preferring cutter/sinker when facing lefties and not generating very positive results with any of the three offerings as all have been hit at a .270+ clip and only his curve has above a 20% whiff rate (30.7%).

Eflin is likely going to fill up the strike zone as his 1.6% walk rate is far and away the best in MLB. Hitters will need to be ready to attack.

Additionally, his away ERA is 4.98 compared to 2.90 at home while also having a 4.97 ERA in day games – two things working against the veteran starter. Shower off the trouncing from yesterday and look to punch back in this afternoon’s affair.

Let’s Go Bucs!