Eflin confident rest will relieve knee soreness

PHILADELPHIA » A guy who has had knee problems in the past, Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin swears it’ll be different this time.

Eflin was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right knee soreness, but after getting what he termed “good news” from results of an MRI on it, said he felt all along that the knee is structurally sound.

“This one felt different,” Eflin said.

The MRI said much the same thing, according to Eflin, who said he’s only feeling the effects of some inflammation around the “fat pad” under the right kneecap.

“I’m just going through some soreness right now,” he said prior to the Phils’ game with the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. “It’s pretty tough to deliver a pitch. But I got some pretty good news (Monday) with some imaging, and really I just need to hopefully take five to seven days off and let it calm down before getting back out and feeling 100 percent again.”

Eflin, eligible to return on July 11, has had surgical procedures on torn patellar tendons before, twice in 2016 (once on each knee about a month apart), and again last season after his disappointing 2021 campaign ended early.

“Everything looks great on the MRI; it’s just some swelling and is looking like a contusion underneath the kneecap,” said Eflin (35, 4.37 ERA). “It’s definitely encouraging news, considering my past (MRIs). … I’m pretty optimistic that just by taking a couple of extra days off and missing a start or two will clean it right up.”

That sounds optimistic, but interim manager Rob Thomson, who said he’ll install Lehigh Valley promotee Bailey Falter into Eflin’s spot in the starting rotation, made it sound as if the club was going to take its time with Eflin’s latest knee woes.

“We’re just going to get him off his feet for now,” Thomson said of Eflin. “No functional work, and get that ‘fat pad’ irritation out of there. Once the pain is gone, we’ll start ramping him up, but who knows how long that pain will take to get out of there?”

Thomson added once off the IL, Eflin would have to run through a series of fielding practices and other drills before getting back up to speed, “just to make sure we’re not going to have a recurring injury.”

Over his last few starts, Eflin said he’s been having discomfort, saying the pain would kick in “pretty much in the second inning.” But he doesn’t regret trying to pitch through it all.

“I don’t have time to question my competitiveness, honestly,” Eflin said. “I like what I did. I’ll never turn away from the ball.”

• • •

The Phillies activated newly acquired outfielder Oscar Mercado, who was available to play Tuesday night against the Braves. Eflin’s move to the IL freed up a spot for Mercado.

“He might be a pretty good pickup for us because Oscar is a pretty good defender,” Thomson said. “He can play all three (outfield positions) and can run. So he can pinch-run, he can defend late in games; he’s hit in the past so we’re trying to take the next couple of days and really hit it hard with him.” • • • NOTES: Injured relievers Ryan Sherriff and Sam Coonrod, neither of whom have pitched yet this season due to shoulder injuries, are heading for bullpen work this week, after which they’ll be re-assessed and could wind up helping out soon. … Series continues Wednesday with Braves’ tough Kyle Wright (8-4, 3.18) on the mound against Ranger Suarez (6-4, 4.23).