The Orioles, in need of pitching and more pitching, have checked off two boxes in one day.

Earlier on Friday, they acquired right-handed reliever Seranthony Domínguez, in addition to outfielder Cristian Pache, from the Phillies, shipping off veteran Austin Hays in exchange.

And now, just a few hours later, they have their starter. The Orioles are acquiring Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays. In return, they are sending right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister, their No. 17 prospect, utilityman Mac Horvath, their No. 10 prospect, and outfielder Matthew Etzel, a fast riser in the Orioles system, to the Rays.

The Orioles designated Vinny Nittoli and Levi Stoudt, clearing space on the 40-man roster. Pache and Domínguez have reported, and the Orioles will need to make one more move when they activate Eflin, but they can wait until the day of his first start to do so.

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With Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and John Means out for the rest of the season, the Orioles were in need of a veteran starter. Eflin fits that bill. He has a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts this season and a career ERA of 4.26 in parts of nine major league seasons.

He finished sixth in American League Cy Young Voting a year ago and has pitched in 11 postseason games, more than the rest of the starting staff combined.

Eflin is under contract through the 2025 season and is owed $18 million next year, giving the Orioles some security as Bradish and Wells recovery from elbow surgeries. The earliest either is slated is return is next June, over two months into the season. Bradish, who had Tommy John elbow surgery, could be out for all of 2025. Means will become a free agent after this season, and it is not known if the team will attempt to re-sign him.

Eflin will likely slate in as the No. 3 starter behind Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez, making Dean Kremer and Albert Suárez the No. 4 and No. 5 options. Chayce McDermott, who debuted Wednesday, and Cade Povich are options in Triple-A, in addition to Cole Irvin, who is in the bullpen.

It’s a good deal for the Orioles. It’s not the top arm that’s thought to be available, but they are filling a dire need without having to give up one of their beloved top five prospects. Plus, they have until June 30 to make another deal.

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The Blue Jays’ Yusei Kikuchi and the Giants’ Blake Snell are thought to be available, as is the Tigers’ Jack Flaherty, whom the Orioles acquired at last year’s deadline in a deal that did not prove helpful. The White Sox’s Garrett Crochet’s representatives have reportedly told teams that he will not pitch in the playoffs without receiving a contract extension.

Horvath, the highest-ranked prospect of the return, was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft. He was in High-A, where he was hitting .232 and playing second, third and the outfield. Baumeister was having an impressive pro-debut season with Aberdeen, pitching to a 3.08 ERA in 18 starts. Etzel, the last part of the package, was a 10th-round pick in 2023 who quickly found success. He was the first of his draft class to make it to Double-A, due in large part to his hit tool.