Orioles Report: Taylor Ward leads team to sweep over White Sox, Eflin season over
Updated: 12:14 PM EDT Apr 9, 2026
The Orioles seem to be on the right track this week, completing a sweep in Chicago after just losing three straight games last weekend.Outfielder Taylor Ward has carried the team all season, but was crucial in the series win over the White Sox, with six hits, including five doubles. He is first in the majors in doubles with nine, and leads the American League with 18 hits, batting .383. He has been the most consistent offensive player for the Orioles, and other than a couple of defensive hiccups, has been the best offseason move. Ward’s performance so far makes the trade with the Los Angeles Angels look like a steal. He was traded for former first-round pick Grayson Rodriguez, who has not pitched yet this season. Offensive issues?Ward has also taken some of the pressure off of fellow newcomer Pete Alonso, who has struggled early this season. Alonso only has one home run and is batting .188 so far, and has fans worried about the high-priced free agent. The entire team has gone through a power drought as they are near the bottom of the majors with only eight home runs. Gunnar Henderson has gotten hot lately and leads the team with four home runs, but only two other Orioles have left the yard. They were expected to be one of the better power-hitting teams this season, and hopefully, as the temperatures heat up, so will the club’s bats. The team is hitting for average, though, and is getting on base with a top-10 on-base percentage in the majors. If Alonso warms up, and some of Ward’s doubles turn into home runs, it could help the offense get back on track.Eflin undergoes surgeryIt was more bad injury news for the Orioles as starting pitcher Zach Eflin will miss the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his elbow. The team announced the surgery on Wednesday after the pitcher sought a second opinion and decided to get the surgery. This was supposed to be a bounce-back season for Eflin, who was feeling the best he had in years after recovering from back surgery last year. He had a good spring training and was able to beat out Dean Kremer for the final rotation spot. He unfortunately only made one start for the Orioles after signing a one-year deal for $10 million during the offseason. The Orioles will now have to turn to other options for the rotation. They used prospect Brandon Young in a spot start earlier in the week, and he responded with a strong effort with five scoreless innings. They will turn to lefty Cade Povich on Sunday for his first start of the season. Kremer will be an option as well and is coming off his best performance this season in the minors, pitching almost five shutout innings in his last start.
BALTIMORE —
The Orioles seem to be on the right track this week, completing a sweep in Chicago after just losing three straight games last weekend.
Outfielder Taylor Ward has carried the team all season, but was crucial in the series win over the White Sox, with six hits, including five doubles. He is first in the majors in doubles with nine, and leads the American League with 18 hits, batting .383.
He has been the most consistent offensive player for the Orioles, and other than a couple of defensive hiccups, has been the best offseason move. Ward’s performance so far makes the trade with the Los Angeles Angels look like a steal. He was traded for former first-round pick Grayson Rodriguez, who has not pitched yet this season.
Offensive issues?
Ward has also taken some of the pressure off of fellow newcomer Pete Alonso, who has struggled early this season. Alonso only has one home run and is batting .188 so far, and has fans worried about the high-priced free agent.
The entire team has gone through a power drought as they are near the bottom of the majors with only eight home runs. Gunnar Henderson has gotten hot lately and leads the team with four home runs, but only two other Orioles have left the yard.
They were expected to be one of the better power-hitting teams this season, and hopefully, as the temperatures heat up, so will the club’s bats. The team is hitting for average, though, and is getting on base with a top-10 on-base percentage in the majors. If Alonso warms up, and some of Ward’s doubles turn into home runs, it could help the offense get back on track.
Eflin undergoes surgery
It was more bad injury news for the Orioles as starting pitcher Zach Eflin will miss the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his elbow. The team announced the surgery on Wednesday after the pitcher sought a second opinion and decided to get the surgery.
This was supposed to be a bounce-back season for Eflin, who was feeling the best he had in years after recovering from back surgery last year. He had a good spring training and was able to beat out Dean Kremer for the final rotation spot. He unfortunately only made one start for the Orioles after signing a one-year deal for $10 million during the offseason.
The Orioles will now have to turn to other options for the rotation. They used prospect Brandon Young in a spot start earlier in the week, and he responded with a strong effort with five scoreless innings. They will turn to lefty Cade Povich on Sunday for his first start of the season. Kremer will be an option as well and is coming off his best performance this season in the minors, pitching almost five shutout innings in his last start.
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