Eflin appreciates his 500th K ... much later

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies starter Zach Eflin struck out Ryan McMahon swinging on a 95-mph fastball for the second out in the third inning in Tuesday night’s 10-3 victory over the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park. The right-hander got the ball back after a quick around the horn.

Eflin was happy to have the ball because it was a good one, rubbed up just the way he likes with Delaware River mud.

Maybe, he thought, he could pick up another two outs with it.

But then a Phillies bat boy jogged onto the field. He wanted the baseball. Eflin looked baffled. He shook his head no.

“Why?” he asked catcher J.T. Realmuto, who encouraged him to toss the ball away.

“Why?” he said again.

Reluctantly, he did.

Eflin did not know until after the game that it was his 500th career strikeout. It was a nice career accomplishment for the pitcher, who is in his seventh season with the Phillies. He has faced his share of adversity in that time. Eflin has had injuries and surgeries, including a procedure to repair the patellar tendon in his right knee in September.

Eflin has had coaches try to change him from a sinkerballer into a four-seam top-of-the-zone guy. He got optioned once in an ill-conceived attempt at roster manipulation. He briefly got sent to the bullpen in 2019.

“It’s really cool,” Eflin said about his 500th strikeout. “I honestly had no idea. I was just telling [Aaron] Nola over here, I was pretty upset out there. I was pissed. Because I had no idea why they were telling me to throw the ball out. … I really liked the baseball that I was throwing with. I honestly didn’t even know until I had the [postgame] radio interview that that was the moment.”

Eflin is 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA in four starts this season. In 19 2/3 innings, he has struck out 15 and walked five. He allowed one run on two hits and one walk to go with three strikeouts in six innings.

“Everything, right?” manager Joe Girardi said, asked what he liked about Eflin’s start. “Everything.”

Eflin has walked two or fewer batters in 28 consecutive starts, a streak dating back to Aug. 29, 2020. The only Phillies starters in the modern era with a longer streak are Robin Roberts (36 starts from 1960-61), Roy Halladay (35 starts from 2010-11) and Syl Johnson (30 starts from 1937-40).

Entering Tuesday, Eflin’s 1.44 walks per nine innings ranked second in baseball to Clayton Kershaw’s 1.35 (minimum 150 innings in that span).

“I get really upset with walks and I don’t like being upset,” Eflin said.

Following his September surgery, the Phillies thought Eflin might not return until sometime in May. Eflin never doubted that he would be ready by Opening Day. But it is something to be ready and it is something to be ready and good.

Eflin has been ready and good.

It comes at the right time. The Phils need Eflin to pitch well to make the postseason for the first time since 2011. He is a free agent after the season, too. There is the potential for a big payday.

“I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t rewarding,” Eflin said. “I’m really happy with the way everything went in the offseason and how I’m feeling now. It’s a huge testament to the work that I’ve put in during the offseason. But like I said, I expected it. I’m not really wired to say, ‘Oh, I felt good today.’ I just expect it.”

Phillies starters are three starts into their fourth turn through the rotation. They are 1-1 with a 1.45 ERA. Opponents have a .440 OPS. The group was 3-7 with a 5.07 ERA through their first three turns. Opponents had a .759 OPS.

The rotation is getting better. So is the offense, which had 11 hits on Tuesday. It explains why the Phils have won four of their last six to improve to 8-10.

“Having surgery in the offseason and rehabbing the way I did, I expected to feel good in every outing and be able to throw 90-100-plus pitches every outing,” Eflin said. “That’s the clear goal. And I feel like we’re at that point now where I’ve got to get going.”