This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/orioles as Orioles Starter Zach Eflin Has Good Audition Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline . Despite a glimmer of hope at one point for the Baltimore Orioles, the team has been unable to make a quick run to start the second half of the season.

Bautista going on the IL hurts the Orioles' chances of staying competitive and perhaps getting back into the American League playoff race. At 44-57 going into Thursday's play, Baltimore is 15.5 games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. That also leaves them 9.5 games out of the third AL wild-card playoff spot.

Orioles closer Felix Bautista lands on the 15-day IL with shoulder discomfort just days before the MLB trade deadline.