SARASOTA, Fla. — The Orioles optioned left-hander Cade Povich to the minors Sunday night in a decision that reinforces the 25-year-old’s role as a starter and solidifies Baltimore’s rotation with about a week left in spring training.
Povich, who has started 36 games for the Orioles the last two years, made the opening day roster in 2025. But, after the Orioles built out their rotation with external additions and improved health, Povich will begin the season in the minors. There was the potential Baltimore would use him out of the bullpen early this season — and that could be a possibility down the line — but for the moment Povich appears poised to remain as starting pitching depth.
Povich produced a 5.21 ERA in 112 1/3 innings last year, and while he showed flashes of dominance, command issues have worked against him. He issued five walks in 2 2/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies last week.
The Orioles named left-hander Trevor Rogers their opening day starter against the Minnesota Twins on March 26. Manager Craig Albernaz has declined to announce the rest of his rotation, but the group in camp is fairly clear — and the schedule with which certain pitchers are throwing seems to indicate the order.
Rogers started Saturday. On Monday, right-hander Kyle Bradish will pitch, which could put him in line to start the second game against the Twins. Right-hander Chris Bassitt, signed this winter as a free agent, starts Tuesday (and, therefore, seems on schedule to pitch the third game of the regular season).
Right-handers Shane Baz, acquired via trade, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin are expected to round out the rotation. The Orioles could opt for a six-man rotation and run with all of them, although the scheduled off days to begin the year don’t make that an obvious choice.
There is also the possibility Eflin starts the year on the injured list to give him more time to build up. He underwent back surgery in August.
“He’s kind of exceeded my expectations with just how he’s moving,” Albernaz said of Eflin. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised with where he’s at and how he’s moving down the mound and how efficient he is. He’s been throwing the ball well.”
The entire group, Rogers said, is worthy of more positive attention than it has received. For as poorly as Baltimore’s rotation performed at the onset of last season, the Orioles’ ace expects the revamped unit to be a strength.
“We have a lot of guys that can eat innings and just overall stuff,” Rogers said. “Bradish could be an opening day guy for anybody else. Bassitt’s been on the biggest stage in baseball. Eflin’s done it forever. And Dean’s just a horse; he just eats innings. … Every single day, whoever takes the ball, we have a really good chance to win. That’s just a recipe for success, and I just don’t think it gets talked about enough.”
The depth appears to be improved, too. Beyond Povich, the Orioles stashed right-hander Brandon Young in the minors. Prospects Luis De Leon, Nestor German and Trey Gibson may be nearing a debut this season.