Phillies: Don’t look now, but Zach Eflin is an emerging talent

After two rough seasons, Zach Eflin is finally living up to his potential and becoming an effective starter in the Phillies rotation.

In his first two major-league seasons with the Phillies, Zach Eflin had a 5.85 ERA and 4-10 record in 22 starts. He ended both years on the disabled list, undergoing knee surgery at the end of 2016 and suffering a shoulder injury last year. With other young starters quickly rising in the system, Eflin appeared to be on the outside looking in.

Eflin lost the battle for the fifth rotation spot out of spring training and started this year in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was called up to the majors April 30 after Ben Lively hit the disabled list, and he has been a staple in the rotation ever since.

In 11 starts this year, Eflin has a 2.97 ERA and 2.91 fielding-independent pitching. He has been worth two wins above replacement, making him the second-most valuable pitcher on the team this year after Aaron Nola.

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Eflin had a month to remember in June, allowing just six runs in five starts, winning all of them. He had a 1.76 ERA, 28 strikeouts, six walks, and gave up no home runs in 30.2 innings. Among NL pitchers in June, only Chicago’s Jon Lester, who won the league’s pitcher of the month award, had a lower ERA.

Eflin followed up his strong June with a great start to the month of July.

In his start Tuesday night against the Orioles, he surrendered just two runs on five hits and one home run in seven innings. He struck out six and walked none. He could have gone into the eighth as he threw just 82 pitches, but a finger blister kept him from pitching any longer. Eflin said he isn’t concerned about it and it shouldn’t impact his next start.

After Eflin’s strong start, Philadelphia survived an eighth-inning rally from the Orioles and went on to win 3-2. Eflin picked up his sixth straight win, becoming the first Phillie to do it since Cliff Lee rattled off seven straight in 2011.

Eflin told reporters after the game that his success has stemmed from a huge boost in confidence this year: [quote via Todd Zolecki of MLB.com]

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"“I believe a lot more in my stuff than I ever have in my life,” Eflin said. “It’s good to carry that confidence into the game and to have a good game plan. Like I said, the confidence is the greatest thing, and I have a lot of confidence right now. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way before.”"

The Phillies are now nine games above .500 at 46-37 and are right in the heart of the playoff race. There are rumblings about the team potentially acquiring a starter at the deadline depending on how the starters not named Nola perform. Eflin is keeping his own spot in the rotation secure with his strong performance this season.

Next: Phillies rumors: Hamels deal becoming possibility?

Eflin emerging as an effective starter couldn’t have come at a better time. For once they are playing meaningful baseball in the second half of the season, and Eflin should help them continue their success.