SARASOTA, Fla. – Just how good could the Orioles’ rotation be in 2026?

Zach Eflin might not break camp with the team and has the capabilities of being an ace.

Eflin starts tonight against the Yankees split-squad at Ed Smith Stadium after building up his pitch count last week in a B game. He’s recovered from August back surgery and tossed two scoreless innings on March 5 in Port Charlotte.

Trevor Rogers is the confirmed starter on Opening Day and Kyle Bradish seems certain to follow him in the rotation. Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt and Dean Kremer round out the unit, and Eflin provides a sixth starter whenever he’s given the green light.

Pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek was talking up the group during a recent conversation with Rogers, saying, “This might be the most underrated rotation in all of baseball.”

“I think we all agree,” Rogers said after Saturday’s outing in Bradenton.

“I think we all have that chip on our shoulder. I mean, this whole team does, just the way things ended up last year. We’re ready to compete and get after it this year and really give it our all.”

Rogers earned the chance to pitch on March 26, but so did Bradish, which speaks to the depth and also the team’s intent to be careful with the right-hander after his 2024 Tommy John surgery.

“It’s even more special, just the type of talent that we’ve had,” Rogers said. “Bradish could be an Opening Day guy for the other 29 teams, and that goes for the rest of our guys on the staff. Just even more grateful for the opportunity, just with the talent that we have starting rotation-wise. So very honored.”

So why is the rotation underrated, at least in the opinion of a team that needs it to be much better this year in order to go from worst to first in the division?

“Just the overall stuff that we have, the command,” Rogers said. “We have a lot of guys that can eat innings and just overall stuff. Like I 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.

“You compile all that with just really good stuff. 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 Orioles keep bringing it up. They’ll do the talking, with every intention of backing it up with their actions.

“To be honest, I don’t really know what the outside perspective is,” said catcher Adley Rutschman. “I think our staff is really good and capable of doing a lot. I mean, just top to bottom, from Baz, Bradish, Eflin, Kremer, Bassitt, Rogers, top to bottom we’ve got a really, really good staff. And just from what I’ve seen, talk to each other a lot, like they’re feeding off each other and learning. I think we have a really good staff.”

Rutschman takes it a step further, agreeing that it’s the strongest staff he’s caught since he broke into the majors in 2022.

“I’m very excited for it,” he said. “I think just in general, we have a really good team. I’m very excited for this year.”

Like everyone else here, he’s ready to get it started. Guys are amped up for Opening Day in Baltimore.

“One hundred percent,” Rutschman said. “I think everyone’s excited and you can feel it. Like it’s so close. Everyone’s just kind of inching toward it and excited.”

Samuel Basallo is catching tonight. Tyler O’Neill has returned from the World Baseball Classic and is in right field. He’s also expected to be in Monday night’s lineup.

Taylor Ward is leading off and serving as the designated hitter. Heston Kjerstad is in left field. Blaze Alexander is the second baseman.

Pete Alonso is at first base. Ryan Mountcastle is expected to return to the lineup on Monday.

For the Orioles
Taylor Ward DH
Colton Cowser CF
Pete Alonso 1B
Samuel Basallo C
Tyler O’Neill RF
Heston Kjerstad LF
Blaze Alexander 2B
Bryan Ramos 3B
José Barrero SS

Zach Eflin RHP

For the Yankees
Ben Rice 1B
Jasson Domínguez LF
Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B
José Caballero SS
J.C. Escarra C
Oswaldo Cabrera 3B
Spencer Jones CF
Marco Luciano DH
Seth Brown RF

Paul Blackburn RHP

Notes: Kyle Bradish starts Monday night against the Red Sox’s Sonny Gray. Chris Bassitt starts Tuesday afternoon against the Tigers’ Justin Verlander in Lakeland.

The Orioles appear to be lining up Bassitt to start the third game of the season, though we don’t know when Shane Baz is pitching.

Other pitchers listed tonight are Keegan Akin, Yennier Cano, Ryan Helsley and Enoli Paredes.

Outfielder Vance Honeycutt is an extra tonight.