don't mess with a hot streak.
Eflin I guess is what passes as an O's ace when everyone else is hurt. To be fair, he is good. Something seems to have clicked in 2022, his last year in Philly, when his K and BB rates dropped and he shaved about a half run off his career ERA and FIP. So far, his K% and K/9 are about half of his very good 2023 in Tampa Bay (9.42 / 26.5% vs 5.09 / 14.6%). Not prone to BBs (3.4%), and benefiting from a low BABIP this season (.243). Fly ball pitcher this year, which is a break from the past.
Soroka has gone 5, 5, and 4 in his 3 starts this year, so length may be an issue. Been around 80 pitches per outing. As we know, he changed his historic pitch mix when he moved to the bullpen last year in Chicago and has kept up with the new mix this year. Mostly a 4 seam now while in Atlanta mostly a sinker, with a breaking ball that's about 3 MPH slower than in the past. Since his return from injury this year, he's had 9 hits, 12 Ks and 3 BBs in 9 innings, with 1 HR. A nice 25.4 K% and 6.8 BB%. Increased his 1st strike % and getting more called strikes.
