O's pitching preview has familiar arms, new faces and room to add

BALTIMORE -- Spring Training is quickly approaching, as Orioles pitchers and catchers are set to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla., in 19 days on Feb. 10. The first workout for pitchers and catchers will occur the following day.

Ahead of the first report day, MLB.com will have a full Opening Day roster projection for Baltimore, which will be aiming for a bounce-back 2026 season after going 75-87 in ‘25.

Much of the position-player side of the O’s roster is already locked, with nearly a dozen players who are certainties to make the team as long as they’re healthy. The pitching staff is a bit more in flux, especially because that’s the area the club could still add to in the next two-plus weeks.

So as the offseason winds down, let’s analyze the pitching landscape for the Orioles at this time.

Projected starting rotation:

RHP Kyle Bradish
LHP Trevor Rogers
RHP Shane Baz
RHP Zach Eflin
RHP Dean Kremer

The three locks here are Bradish, Rogers and Baz. Bradish has pitched like an ace for the O’s when healthy over the past three seasons (a 2.78 ERA in 44 starts), while Rogers won the Most Valuable Oriole Award last year with a tremendous showing (a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts).

Baz hasn’t yet reached his full potential, but the 26-year-old stayed healthy for a full season for the first time last year with the Rays (when he posted a 4.87 ERA in 31 starts). The Orioles gave up a hefty package of prospects because they believe they can help get Baz to the next level.

Eflin and Kremer are front-runners for rotation spots, with the former’s status largely depending on his health. Eflin had back surgery last August, and while the O’s 2025 Opening Day starter believes he’ll be ready to begin the ‘26 season, the team has been cautious with pitchers coming off of injuries in recent years.

Kremer remains a reliable arm in the back end of a rotation, as he’s logged 474 innings over the past three seasons, recording a 4.14 ERA over that span.

This projected rotation doesn’t include right-hander Tyler Wells or left-hander Cade Povich -- who were both among the group to end 2025 -- nor righties Brandon Young and Albert Suárez, who will also be in camp competing for roster spots. So that’s nine arms in the rotation mix.

The looming uncertainty is whether the Orioles acquire one more starter. Left-hander Framber Valdez and right-hander Zac Gallen are the best remaining options on the free-agent market, while the team has reportedly shown interest in veteran righty Justin Verlander as well. There’s also still the possibility of another trade.

The starting mix has some solid depth, but it could use one additional arm –- and if it’s a top-tier starter such as Valdez, this rotation should be a quality staff in 2026.

Projected bullpen:

RHP Ryan Helsley (closer)
LHP Keegan Akin
RHP Yennier Cano
LHP Dietrich Enns
RHP Rico Garcia
RHP Andrew Kittredge
RHP Tyler Wells
LHP Grant Wolfram

Helsley will be the closer in place of the injured Félix Bautista (rotator cuff/labrum surgery), while Kittredge and Akin appear to be locks for the bullpen. Wells is also going to be on Baltimore’s staff, so if the 31-year-old gets squeezed out of the rotation, this is a logical spot to place him.

Cano is still a front-runner for a spot, even if the 2023 All-Star had a shaky showing in ‘25. Enns showed flashes of his potential in the second half of last season, and the 34-year-old can serve as a long-relief option because of his ability to work multiple innings in an outing.

Garcia and Wolfram will be battling for spots in a camp competition that will also include right-handers Yaramil Hiraldo, Chayce McDermott, Anthony Nunez, Colin Selby and Kade Strowd, among others. Plus, any starter who doesn’t make the rotation -- such as Wells, Povich or Suárez, to name a potential few -- could be in the conversation here.

It’s also still a possibility that the Orioles add bullpen arms before reporting to Spring Training. The group could use another quality high-leverage reliever, particularly one who throws from the left side and would bring a bit more balance to the staff.

So even though Spring Training is now less than three weeks away, Baltimore’s pitching landscape could still change by the time these hurlers report to Sarasota and begin workouts.