Eflin heads to bullpen, determined to rebuild his game

PHILADELPHIA >> The continuing retreat of Zach Eflin from All-Star candidate to struggling starter made one more turn Tuesday: To the bullpen.

With the Phillies having traded for left-handed starter Jason Vargas, and Eflin having sputtered in his last eight starts, the right-hander was reassigned to a role as something of a backup starter.

Aware that Jake Arrieta has a bone spur in his right elbow and that Vince Velasquez traditionally has had trouble getting past the fifth inning, Eflin effectively will be on long-relief call for the games they are scheduled to start. Yet Gabe Kapler also reserved the option to use Eflin in relief of other starters, too.

“One of the things that we’re potentially excited about is seeing Eflin in a role where he could take down several righties in a row and utilize his good fastball-slider combination among his other offerings to be effective out of the pen,” Kapler said before a game against the San Francisco Giants. “I don’t think we have to make any longterm declarations on this front, just take this first step of having him available tonight and potentially the next two days.”

Velasquez (3-5, 4.46 ERA) will pitch Wednesday night at 7:05 against Jeff Samardzija (7-8, 3.95). Arrieta will start Thursday afternoon at 1:05. Eflin promised to be ready.

“I still believe wholeheartedly that I’m a starter,” Eflin said. “But if that’s what the team needs, I’m going to be there for them.”

Eflin’s rapid decline after a strong start has become troublesome as the Phillies continue to try and concoct a workable rotation. As a winning pitcher in three consecutive starts earlier this season, Eflin provided two complete games, including a shutout of the Kansas City Royals. After his first 10 starts, his ERA was 2.76.

But Eflin has lost his last four decisions, and six of his last seven, including a 10-run (six earned) disaster in 2.2 innings in his last start, a 15-7 loss to Atlanta. During the struggle, he has said his body felt “heavy,” though the Phillies have insisted there is nothing physically wrong with the 25-year-old, fourth-year pitcher.

Though the Phillies are not ruling out Eflin’s return to the rotation, they are willing to try the bullpen route for a while.

“In order to be a successful major league pitcher, you have to be focused on the step right in front of you,” Kapler said. “So the step right in front of Zach is becoming more consistent again, like he was, with his command. That command will play well out of the bullpen.”