Rays opening-day starter Zach Eflin placed on IL with lower back inflammation

Published May. 20, 2024 3:32 p.m. ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays placed opening-day starter Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation before Monday night’s game against Boston.

Eflin has struggled this year after a strong first season with Tampa Bay in 2023, going 3-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 10 starts. The right-hander was 16-8 last year after signing a $40 million, three-year contract, which was the largest free-agent deal in Rays’ history.

Oft-injured Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe was reinstated from the 15-day injured list after being sidelined by a right oblique strain.

Lowe last played with the Rays on April 7, and was hitting .185 with one homer and four RBIs in eight games before going on the IL.

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This is the third consecutive year that Lowe has been impacted by injuries after hitting 39 homers and driving in 99 runs in 2021.

Left-hander Richard Lovelady, acquired last week from the Chicago Cubs, was added to the active roster. Reliever Manuel Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A Durham.

Jeffrey Springs allowed one run, three hits, and struck out two over one inning for the rookie-level FCL Rays against the FCL Pirates in his first start since Tommy John surgery. It was the left-hander’s first game since April 13, 2023.

Springs was 2-0 with an 0.56 ERA in three starts last season before his season-ending injury.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

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