WASHINGTON – Just one exhibition game stands between the Orioles and the regular season. But if you thought that fact meant that new manager Craig Albernaz would reveal more of his regular-season plan, think again. 

With both Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt scheduled to pitch today against the Nationals, how will they be ramped up to the games that count? 

“They’re both gonna pitch today,” Albernaz said with a grin. “That’s the plan: to be ready for their start in the regular season.”

Taylor Ward and Gunnar Henderson have seen the most time in the leadoff spot in spring training. Will they be the team’s leadoff hitters? 

“We’ll be mixing and matching,” he said. “Every day, every game is gonna be like Christmas, you don’t know what’s gonna happen. That’s the beauty of it.” 

How about an idea of which relievers will be asked to pitch in high-leverage situations in the absence of Andrew Kittredge and, potentially, Keegan Akin? 

“All of them. We’re going to use all of our relievers in the highest leverage spots.” 

Let’s work chronologically. 

Baz has only appeared in two official spring training games, his last coming on March 4. In that contest, he tossed 49 pitches, 31 of them for strikes. He’s certainly built up from there. Bassitt threw six days ago against the Tigers, reaching 89 pitches. Surely, the veteran knows what his buildup will look like. 

Ward and Henderson seem likely to be the leadoff duo, sharing the responsibilities against the opposite hand. Ward boasted a .918 OPS against lefties a season ago, and brings an advanced approach to the dish against either handedness. 

“He can hit, he’s got power,” Albernaz said of the outfielder. “That’s what everyone knows him for. But his at-bat quality is, to me, it’s fun to watch. The way he works the count, doesn’t chase, swings and pitches in the strike zone. Yes, it sounds very elementary, but at this level, with the way these pitchers are throwing and their shapes, it’s really tough to do, and Taylor can do that. It just feels like every time he’s up this spring training, it’s either been a 3-2 count or he’s gotten his A-swing off and either battled or just missed it.” 

The former Angel may not get the leadoff nod for Opening Day, though. With righty Joe Ryan hitting the hill for the Twins, that honor could go to Henderson. 

“Gunnar is a little more dynamic in the sense of just the pure speed he has. So having him up top, his ability to run, that’s what you always want at the top of the order. But Gunnar’s presence, the way he handles the at-bat and his power with those two at the top, or wherever we hit them, is gonna help us a lot,” Albernaz said. 

While the formerly agreed-upon archetype of a leadoff hitter has largely gone by the wayside, some aspects of that conventional wisdom remain, namely a high on-base percentage dominating the line of thinking. Henderson led last year’s group of returning Orioles in OBP, and Ward would have been in second, due in large part to his 82nd percentile walk rate, according to Statcast. 

That duo may have defined roles in the lineup, but Baltimore’s bullpen may not have any, aside from Ryan Helsley’s closing responsibilities. It’s important to the new skipper, though, that all eight members of the ‘pen pitch in high-leverage situations to begin the year. 

“In my opinion, that’s how you build the floor of the bullpen, putting those guys in those situations,” he said. 

“I think all of our relievers are out there because they’re really good pitchers,” Albernaz added. “Our guys are gonna get exposed to a lot. That’s something where I’ve seen high-functioning bullpens, early in the year, there’s a workload progression for your bullpen guys. You don’t want to overuse them too early. You need to get built up and get in the flow of the season. There’s gonna be opportunities for guys in that ‘pen to pitch in high leverage. We want all of our guys, and all of our guys are fully capable enough and talented enough to pitch in high-leverage moments.”

Albernaz isn’t one to give away the answers to the test. But the correct responses will soon reveal themselves. 

Breadcrumbs from the Skipper

There are no updates to share on injured Orioles Keegan Akin, Heston Kjerstad or Dylan Beavers, according to Albernaz. 

Luis Vázquez is getting a scan on his hand today after exiting yesterday’s content after a hit-by-pitch. The team is hoping to know more on that entire group later today.