FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Orioles are winding down spring training, and manager Brandon Hyde has finally announced his starting rotation to begin the 2024 season.
Following Opening Day starter Corbin Burnes will be right-handers Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells in the second and third games against the Los Angeles Angels at Camden Yards. Right-hander Dean Kremer will then start the opener of a three-game set against Kansas City on April 1 and lefty Cole Irvin will pitch the season’s fifth game before Burnes concludes the opening homestand.
With 2023 staff ace Kyle Bradish beginning the season on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow sprain, Rodriguez will claim the No. 2 starter spot after emerging as one of the American League’s top pitchers over the second half of 2023. Upon being recalled from the minors following the All-Star break, the 24-year-old posted a tidy 2.58 ERA over 13 starts, which ultimately earned him the Game 2 start against Texas in the AL Division Series last October.
Rodriguez will start the Grapefruit League finale on Sunday.
“Because he did what he did in the second half, he’s shown for a couple-month period that he can do it,” said Hyde about Rodriguez being Baltimore’s No. 2 starter. “He can shut down good offenses and make really good starts for us. I want to believe that going into this year that [experience] gave him some confidence. He learned from some rough outings, but also with his good outings that he can pitch up here and he can pitch well. I do have confidence that he’s going to get off to a good start for us. I think that’s important. Our rotation’s a big key for us right now, and Grayson’s a big part of that.”
Wells, 29, beginning the season as the No. 3 starter was the most surprising detail regarding the rotation announcement, but he was expected to begin the year as a starter from the moment general manager Mike Elias announced in mid-February that Bradish and lefty John Means wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day. Though finishing last season in the bullpen, Wells posted a very impressive 3.18 ERA over 104 2/3 innings in the first half before wearing down and being demoted to the minors in late July.
Hyde said he’s seen that first-half version of Wells this spring.
“We look at a little bit of everything. Not only the opponent first time, but kind of in the next few weeks,” said Hyde about the decision to slot Wells into the third spot. “But also, just how he’s throwing the ball great. Like I’ve said a million times, for me, [he was] one of our best if not the best starter in the first half last year. For me, he’s throwing the ball like that right now. We wanted to start him Game 3.”
Wells is scheduled to make his final spring start on Saturday.
Pondering outfield spots
The Orioles continue to weigh their options regarding their outfield depth, but Colton Cowser has checked the defensive boxes Hyde wanted to see this spring.
Regarded as the favorite to open the season as the club’s fourth outfielder behind veteran starters Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Anthony Santander, Cowser made another start in center field on Thursday and has logged more time there than the corner outfield spots in the Grapefruit League.
“He’s made huge strides defensively and shown that in spring training,” Hyde said. “He’s a lot more confident in the outfield playing more aggressive. I do feel comfortable putting him in center field or left field, which is as tough or tougher in our park. And you have to factor those kinds of things also when you’re setting your roster. Our park does play a factor in who we’re bringing from an outfield standpoint.”
It remains to be seen whether the Orioles will carry a fifth outfielder on the 26-man roster, but reserve shortstop Jorge Mateo’s ability to play the outfield could factor into final decisions. Heston Kjerstad, Kyle Stowers, and Ryan McKenna are also competing for a spot as a reserve outfielder.
At the very least, Hyde confirmed the versatile Mateo will make the Opening Day roster.
“He offers us flexibility. That’s why we played him a lot in the outfield in spring training,” Hyde said. “He’s done a lot of outfield stuff in spring training just to help with our versatility. We haven’t decided yet on that, but Mateo’s kind of the wild card in that — that he can play the outfield also.”
