The Orioles have returned home for a weekend series against the Giants and three games against the Diamondbacks before their next road trip to Cleveland and Kansas City.

Thirteen games in a row for a team that moved back to .500 by sweeping the White Sox. A second place team with the longest winning streak in the division.

The Giants won two of three games against the Orioles in September 2024 at Camden Yards, beginning with a 10-0 victory in the series opener. The five Orioles pitchers were Albert Suárez, Keegan Akin, Burch Smith, Craig Kimbrel and Matt Bowman. Kimbrel allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning.

The 2026 season began with none of these pitchers on the active roster. Akin is on the 15-day injured list. Suárez had his contract selected on April 1.

An Akin update would be nice later today. How far he’s along in his recovery from a left groin strain and any plans for a rehab assignment.

I’ve got other questions.

What’s next for Dean Kremer?

Yes, him again.

Kremer was expected to be the No. 5 starter, but the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk and kept Zach Eflin. He was viewed as a likely replacement for Eflin after the veteran exited his first start with elbow discomfort. Kremer could be recalled only if replacing an injured player.

Instead, Kremer has made two starts with Norfolk while Brandon Young and now Cade Povich entered the rotation. Young was optioned after tossing five scoreless innings in Chicago. Povich is getting the ball Sunday against the Giants after his 5 2/3 relief innings in Pittsburgh.

Kremer didn’t allow a run Wednesday in 4 2/3 innings against Jacksonville. He came out after 78 pitches, which might be enough length to get him back to Baltimore.

A second ramp up was necessary after his layoff.

Povich could earn another start with a strong performance this weekend, move to the bullpen as an extra lefty and long man, or return to Norfolk.

What’s next for Jackson Holliday?

Yes, him again.

Holliday led off and played second base yesterday at Norfolk and was 0-for-5 with a strikeout. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base Wednesday before Weston Wilson replaced him.

The rehab assignment, following surgery to remove a broken hamate bone, has consisted of nine games, and Holliday is batting .171 with a .466 OPS and apparently still feeling some traces of soreness in the hand.

The Orioles won’t rush him. They can keep playing Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson at second base and delay a difficult roster decision.

What’s next for the bullpen?

Nick Raquet was acquired in a trade with the Cardinals to give the Orioles a second left-handed reliever. They lost Dietrich Enns to a left foot infection.

Right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo beat him to the injured list by one day with right shoulder inflammation.

The churn brought Suárez back to Baltimore as Eflin’s replacement on the roster.

Andrew Kittredge made his third rehab appearance with Norfolk Wednesday and retired all three batters, striking out two. He also struck out two in a scoreless inning in his previous appearance.

Kittredge is trending in the right direction, and a reliever doesn’t go through the same ramp up process as a starter. Perhaps we’ll learn more this weekend about the plan for Kittredge.

What’s next for a couple of slow starters?

Coby Mayo ruled spring training, leaving no doubts that he’d make the team after slashing .378/.405/.622 (14-for-37) with three doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs in 15 games. He hit everything hard, and he earned the job at third base with Jordan Westburg injured.

Mayo has appeared in 10 games and is 4-for-30 (.133) with a double, RBI, six walks, 11 strikeouts and a .445 OPS.

Colton Cowser was 10-for-45 (.222) in the Grapefruit League, with two doubles, a home run, four walks and 18 strikeouts. But he already was expected to be the primary starter in center field, with Taylor Ward acquired in a trade to play left.

In nine games, Cowser is 4-for-22 (.182) with a double, RBI, three walks, seven strikeouts and a .496 OPS. He improves the defense on a team that has some weaknesses. He’s just got to start hitting.

Dylan Beavers started in center field March 29 and Wednesday afternoon. Leody Taveras got the starts on April 1, Saturday and Sunday. Cowser has twice moved to right field.

They aren’t the only players who are scuffling. Pete Alonso is 9-for-48 (.188) with 15 strikeouts and a .556 OPS. But he’s staying in the lineup. He’s obviously staying on the roster.

The same guarantees aren’t attached to everyone.

Will the Orioles ever face a left-handed starter?

They’re going to set the club record of 15 straight games against right-handers to start a season. They’ll tie the 1975 team on Saturday.

Former Orioles left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez started last night for Arizona, which lined him up for the series at Camden Yards.

So, yes, the streak should end during the homestand.

*Catcher Maverick Handley, who was on the Orioles’ taxi squad for the first road trip, has reported to Double-A Chesapeake.

Norfolk’s roster includes catchers Sam Huff and Creed Willems and Silas Ardoin.

*Class A Delmarva right-hander Keeler Morfe was removed from Wednesday night’s game with right elbow discomfort.

Morfe started the Spring Breakout game against the Yankees in 2025, three months shy of his 19th birthday. The kid announced his presence with seven pitches to leadoff hitter George Lombard Jr. at 98-99 mph. The last, clocked at 99, struck him out.

The bingo card was filled – two runs, two hits, two walks, one strikeout, one wild pitch, one hit batter in two-thirds of an inning. But the 5 foot 8 native of Venezuela showed why MLB Pipeline ranked him ninth among the organization’s prospects.

Control issues at Delmarva were followed by his placement on the injured list in April with a sprained right ring finger. He made only nine appearances with the Shorebirds and allowed 16 earned runs (18 total) with 24 walks in 15 1/3 innings.

Morfe didn’t record an out in Wednesday’s debut, with four runs, two hits, three walks and a hit batter. Only nine of 24 pitches were strikes. He’s no longer ranked in the top 30.