This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SARASOTA, Fla. -- The Orioles’ top high-leverage reliever during the upcoming season could be a pitcher who hasn’t worked out of the bullpen consistently since 2021.
After spending the past four seasons either in Baltimore’s rotation or on the injured list, Tyler Wells will be opening the 2026 campaign in the club’s bullpen. He may even be the top right-handed setup man in front of closer Ryan Helsley for Opening Day now that Andrew Kittredge is dealing with shoulder inflammation and has a low probability of being ready in time.
Wells had a 4.11 ERA in 44 relief outings in 2021, but he’s become a better pitcher since then. The 31-year-old has a 3.76 ERA in 32 games (27 starts) over the past three seasons, though he’s made only seven appearances since the beginning of ’24 because he underwent UCL repair surgery in June of that year.
Let’s analyze the O’s decision to move Wells back to a relief role, and why it’s happening.
Why isn’t Wells going to be in the rotation?
The easy answer is -- well, where are you going to put him?
Baltimore already has six starters for five spots (or potentially six) with Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin, though Eflin is on a later buildup coming off of back surgery. Wells probably would have been seventh in line, though Cade Povich, Brandon Young, Albert Suárez and several prospects are also in the mix.
Wells has proven he can be a solid big league starter. After all, he led the American League with a 0.927 WHIP in the first half of the 2023 season.
This may not be a permanent move. Wells could start games in 2026, especially if the injury bug hits the Orioles as hard as it did in ’25. But right now, the rotation has plenty of options and the bullpen could use another arm of Wells’ caliber.
Is Wells OK with this decision when most pitchers in this position would rather start?
Here’s his answer to that question:
“I think it kind of fits my personality a little bit. I really want what’s best for the team, because I want to go out there and win a World Series with the rest of the guys,” Wells said. “We’ve had the discussion about it, and I told them, ‘Being a starter and being a high-leverage reliever, those are the two spots that a lot of people have a lot of pressure in. I want the pressure. I want the fire.’ So I’m really looking forward to being able to help out the team in any way that I can.”
Can Wells be an effective reliever?
It sure looks like it so far. Wells has been pitching in only one- or two-inning stints in Spring Training, and he has tossed five scoreless frames over four appearances. He’s given up only one hit and hasn’t issued a walk while collecting eight strikeouts.
Wells also had a short relief run at the end of 2023, tossing five scoreless innings without allowing a hit over four games and then working 3 1/3 scoreless frames during the AL Division Series vs. the Rangers.
With a five-pitch mix featuring a four-seam fastball, changeup, slider, cutter and curveball, Wells has a lot of ways to get hitters out. His change has been most impressive of late, generating four of his five whiffs vs. the Astros on Wednesday.
What will the bullpen look like around Wells?
Locks: RHP Ryan Helsley (closer), RHP Tyler Wells, LHP Keegan Akin, RHP Yennier Cano
Near-lock: LHP Dietrich Enns
Front-runners: RHP Rico Garcia, LHP Grant Wolfram
Potential last spot/depth: RHP Jose Espada, RHP Cameron Foster, RHP Yaramil Hiraldo, RHP Jackson Kowar, RHP Anthony Nunez or a non-rotation starter such as LHP Cade Povich, RHP Albert Suárez or RHP Brandon Young
Even with Kittredge likely to open the year on the IL, the O’s appear pleased with this group.
“I love our options. I love our depth,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Everyone’s been throwing the ball well, and that’s something that you look across the league, bullpens are so volatile year to year, you don’t know what to expect. But I think the more options you have, especially as the season goes for 162 [games], you’re going to need a lot of them. It’s been a great showing by all of our guys that have been possible bullpen candidates.”