BALTIMORE -- With a fresh opening in the Orioles’ rotation, a familiar pitcher appears likely to take the mound when the club opens a marquee four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday.
Left-hander Cade Povich arrived in New York on Thursday and is expected to join the O’s ahead of Friday’s opener vs. the American League East-rival Yankees, multiple sources told MLB.com. The team has not confirmed any imminent transaction or announced any starters for the divisional series.
While it is not yet official that Povich will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start Friday, such a move would make sense. The 26-year-old southpaw would be on five days of rest, as his most recent start for the Tides came on Saturday.
After recording a 5.20 ERA in 38 games (36 starts) for Baltimore across the 2024 and ‘25 seasons, Povich did not make the club’s Opening Day roster this year, a sign of the organization’s improved starting-pitching depth. However, the O’s have since lost Zach Eflin (Tommy John surgery) for the season, while Trevor Rogers (illness) and Dean Kremer (right quad strain) are currently on the injured list. Rogers went on the IL on Wednesday (retroactive to Sunday).
Povich fared well in his first MLB stint this season, posting a 2.19 ERA over two outings earlier this month. He allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings of relief at Pittsburgh on April 5, then tossed 6 2/3 frames of one-run ball vs. San Francisco on April 12, which was also his 26th birthday.
A former top prospect, Povich has shown signs of improvement in 2026. The biggest key to his success is command, and he’s issued seven walks in 28 1/3 innings between MLB and Triple-A.
If the Orioles stay in turn the rest of the weekend, then right-handers Kyle Bradish and Shane Baz would start Saturday and Sunday, respectively. However, they’ll need another starter for Monday’s finale, as righties Chris Bassitt and Brandon Young started Thursday in a doubleheader against the Astros at Camden Yards.
One possibility for Monday could be right-hander Albert Suárez. After getting designated for assignment on Sunday, the 36-year-old cleared outright waivers and elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A on Wednesday.
But the O’s expect to re-sign Suárez to a new Minor League deal, and his contract could then be selected.
Norfolk’s rotation features right-handers Trey Gibson (Baltimore’s No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline), Nestor German (No. 10) and Levi Wells (No. 13), though none of the three is likely in the mix to be called up to the big leagues yet.
This weekend’s series marks the first meeting of the season between the Yankees (20-11) and Orioles (15-16). A strong showing by Baltimore could prove the club is capable of competing for the division title this season after a disappointing 75-87 showing in 2025, which resulted in a last-place finish in the AL East.