The Orioles used their home Opening Day to fish for compliments.

Fans had to be done complaining about a series split in Toronto and another injury. This was a time to party. The team was back at Camden Yards, the sun came out and players circled the bases in the first inning. The good times rolled, and no one got run over.

Cade Povich warmed to Eminem’s “The Real Slimy Shady” and looked like the real deal with eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, but the pitch count got him – 94 of them. Manager Brandon Hyde was left to piece together the rest.

The first four relievers combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings and the Orioles had another offensive surge in the eighth in an 8-5 win over the Red Sox before an announced sellout crowd of 45.002.

Félix Bautista warmed with the Orioles ahead 4-3 and had to pitch the ninth, no longer in line for his first save since Aug. 24, 2023. He entered to Omar's whistle and a rousing ovation, and he allowed two runs on a leadoff walk, wild pitch, Romy Gonzalez double and two-out broken-bat single by Jarren Duran. Rafael Devers walked but Alex Bregman popped up.

Cade Povich looked sharp yesterday. 

No hits, no walks and no earned runs at Nationals Park for the final exhibition game of the season. 

“Really good. Wanted to get the guys in, get them out quickly and get to Toronto,” Povich said with a laugh. “Everything felt good.”

The goose eggs on the box score would’ve looked better if there was a box score. The rain in the nation’s capital didn’t let the Orioles and Nationals take the field for their final tune-up of spring training. There wasn’t a game, but Povich did look sharp. 

His outfit did, at least.

WASHINGTON – As it turns out, the window of opportunity wasn’t just ajar for Cade Povich. It was open, and “Slim” took full advantage. 

Povich won the fifth spot in the rotation and earned the right to hit the hill for Baltimore’s home opener. A big step up for the lefty, who began last season at Triple-A Norfolk. 

“First Opening Day roster, being able to start, make a home opener start, that’s a big deal,” manager Brandon Hyde said today in D.C.. “I think Cade’s got a great way about him. He’s very, very mild mannered, he’s very composed. I was really impressed with his maturity last year and how much he grew up, honestly.”

That growth was on full display during Povich’s final month of the season. 

He flipped a switch in his five starts in September. After an 11.81 ERA in July and a 7.36 in August, that number plummeted to a 2.60 to close the baseball calendar. 

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles didn’t mean to become a spring training cliché. It just happened. Nothing they could do about it.

Their roster appeared to be mostly set, with few decisions pending. They were proceeding without new injuries. But a team can’t get too comfortable because something always seems to happen.

Or multiple things happen, which is worse.

Imagine being told before pitchers and catchers reported that the Orioles would begin the season with Gunnar Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez on the injured list. Oh yeah, and their new reliever, Andrew Kittredge, would appear in one exhibition game and need surgery on his left knee. How long until panic set in and counseling was recommended?

This isn’t just an Orioles thing, though some locals would argue it. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery and won’t pitch this season. Rookie of the Year Luis Gil could miss three months with a lat strain. Giancarlo Stanton had platelet-rich plasma injections in both elbows. The Rays got back their ace, Shane McClanahan, after he missed the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, and he walked off the mound Saturday with a triceps injury.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The hesitation and hedging are over.

Gunnar Henderson has missed too many exhibition games and won’t be ready for Opening Day. The Orioles won’t carry him on the roster and play shorthanded. The All-Star shortstop and best player on the team is beginning the season on the injured list.

Henderson will miss a minimum of seven games.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed the decision this morning before the Orioles headed to North Port to play the Braves in the last exhibition game in Florida.

They break camp and prepare for Monday afternoon’s game against the Nationals in D.C., then fly to Toronto to rest, work out and start the 2025 regular season against the rival Blue Jays.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Three more days and the Orioles break camp, play the Nationals in D.C., fly to Toronto, work out and begin a season that could deliver their first playoff win since 2014. Congratulations, it's an oh boy!

Tucked somewhere within this stretch is a finalized roster for March 27, with media curious whether it’s safe to report by Sunday’s game against the Braves in North Port or if the Orioles could wait until Monday.

Two years ago, they announced the Danny Coulombe trade with the Twins on the last day in camp. Colton Cowser broke the news of his inclusion on the Opening Day roster last spring after Orioles played the Twins in Fort Myers. He stood in the hallway outside the visiting clubhouse, revealed that he had just received confirmation from executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde, and wondered if he committed a faux pas.

“I was just informed that I made the club. I’m excited,” he said.

Cowser stopped, turned to a team official and asked, “Was I supposed to say that?”

SARASOTA, Fla. – Every pitch and every inning felt like they weighed a ton on a scale of importance.

Spring training results aren’t supposed to matter. The games don’t count.

Don’t tell that to Cade Povich.

Povich and Albert Suárez are battling for the last rotation spot. Suárez allowed one run in five innings in Lakeland in his most recent start. The Orioles switched Charlie Morton to the back fields this afternoon to get his six ups, removing Povich from a piggyback role and putting him first against the Blue Jays’ regular-heavy lineup.

In response, Povich tossed five hitless innings. No runs allowed, three walks, six strikeouts, and much more for the Orioles to consider.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The best way to celebrate a safe return from Dunedin is to update the will again and empty the mailbag.

You ask ‘em, I answer ‘em, we have our latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, and I promise myself that I’ll try harder next time.

The extent of my editing is to remove the references to politics from some of you lunatics. You worry about injuries and blame the current or former president. You say the Orioles are scrambling to find pitching and complain about the price of eggs. You attempt to make a Zach Fruit pun and only come up with the word “impeach.”

One last thing: My mailbag hits fungoes and your mailbag keeps hitting the Funyuns.

Is Hyde seriously thinking of Cedric Mullins batting first and Adley Rutschman second?
Are you reading too much into a spring training lineup? Shame on you. Haven’t you memorized the cliches about spring training lineups, and how you never fall in love with spring and September stats. Also, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape and you don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger. And don’t make me go over the rules regarding yellow snow. Gunnar Henderson is the leadoff hitter when healthy. MLB Network’s projected Orioles lineup had Mullins third. Third? Outrageous. Mullins could be a backup leadoff guy if Henderson is out and the matchup is favorable, but he’s far more likely to be in the lower part.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – The number was right, but the player wearing it jogged to left.

Anthony Santander faced the Orioles today for the first time since signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays. The white 25 on the back of a blue jersey didn’t fit the images created over his eight seasons in Baltimore, and he added to the weirdness by going to the other side of the outfield. The baseball world was spinning off its axis.

The visiting bullpen is beyond the left field fence at TD Ballpark, which allowed Santander to fist bump and chat with major league field coordinator Tim Cossins and reliever Bryan Baker. He joked later about Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano being big deals and arriving later. A Grapefruit League game was scheduled and a reunion broke out.

Santander will be in Sarasota next Tuesday. He asked to make the trip. And the Orioles begin the regular season with a four-game series at Rogers Centre.

“Kind of emotional,” he said. “First time in a spring training game playing against my team. They gave me the opportunity to be a big leaguer. Looking forward to the season, especially Opening Day.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Orioles brought reserves and minor leaguers to TD Ballpark for today's game against the Blue Jays.

Ramón Laureano is leading off and playing center field. Dylan Carlson follows in right field and Coby Mayo is batting cleanup as the designated hitter.

Other players on the trip include Nick Gordon in left field, Emmanuel Rivera at first base, Vimael Machín at third base, Livan Soto at second and Luis Vazquez at shortstop.

Maverick Handley is catching left-hander Cade Povich, who threw four innings on a back field the last time that he faced hitters.

Povich has made two starts and tossed five scoreless innings with one hit and seven strikeouts.

SARASOTA, Fla. – There must be a voodoo curse in the Orioles déjà vu.

Their rotation was ravaged by injuries last season, and five starters at the major or minor league levels are headed for the IL – Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Trevor Rogers, Chayce McDermott and Grayson Rodriguez, who joined a club that’s about as exclusive as the local Publix.

Rodriguez is receiving multiple opinions to determine the cause of the discomfort in the back of his right elbow, the severity of it and how long he’s going to be out. He won’t be ready for Opening Day, which punches a hole in a rotation that lost ace Corbin Burnes to free agency.

“It’s a huge loss, but at the end of the day we need Grayson for pretty much the majority of the whole season,” said Zach Eflin, the uncontested starter on March 27 in Toronto. “If it’s something that happens, preferably it would be now and get it out of the way and come back stronger. It’s a blow, but fortunately for us we have depth and we have the next guy up mentality, so we’ll be prepared for any situation we encounter.”

“It’s tough I think whenever you have an injury,” said Cade Povich. “We saw it unfortunately too many times last year with guys going down. It’s tough. I see how hard he worked to get back last year. Got here early, I’ve seen how hard he’s worked to come back, so hopefully it’s nothing big. Hopefully it’s something short and he can get back quick.”

The Orioles are in a different era. 

Consistently competing in the American League East, Baltimore can’t afford to give guaranteed, consistent playing time to prospects. Development, while still important, has to give way to winning baseball games at the big league level. 

Of course, this wasn’t always the case. 

Pitching prospects like Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer were never top 100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, nor were they considered to be in the upper echelon of the O’s top youngsters. However, with a rebuilding phase at the big league level, they were still able to find pathways to relatively consistent playing time in the majors. 

Both players have been able to carve out roles in Baltimore: Akin out of the bullpen and Kremer as a mainstay in the starting rotation. They were given a chance to prove that they had big league ability and they made the most of their opportunities. 

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are on the road again today with their bus pointed toward Fort Myers for another game against the Twins at Hammond Stadium.

The redundancy this spring is mind numbing. No games in Port Charlotte, the third-shortest trip from Sarasota. Only one in North Port, which is the second shortest and super convenient for manager Brandon Hyde, to close out the Florida portion of the schedule.

Out of nine games, the Orioles have played the Pirates three times – losing all three - host them again Thursday night and head back to Bradenton Monday afternoon for a MASN telecast. They’ve gone to Clearwater twice and have a split-squad game there Sunday afternoon. They were in Fort Myers Friday and return less than a week later.

The five projected starters are impressing, and Grayson Rodriguez’s next turn is today. He tossed 1 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings against the Blue Jays in his debut. The only baserunner came from a hit-by-pitch.

“I was able to drive the fastball, changeup was working good, was able to throw the new sweeper once and got a bad swing on it, so I was pretty excited about that,” he said afterward.

The Orioles are 4-4 in the Grapefruit League, losers of two straight, and it means as much as the heart-healthy claims on boxes of Cheerios. Maybe if you power-walk to the fridge to get the milk.

Spring training records aren’t important. Take the wins where you can get them, but don’t judge a game by the final score.

For example, the 5-2 loss to the Pirates Saturday. Much more impactful were Cade Povich’s three scoreless innings. He put on a clinic, locating his fastball and secondary stuff. The changeup was outstanding.

Four of Povich’s six strikeouts were looking. He had the Pirates guessing wrong. He had outstanding stuff. And he had a catcher, Adley Rutschman, who did some fine framing.

Povich said afterward on the MASN broadcast that he thought he missed with a curveball, but Rutschman got him the strike.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Samuel Basallo saw a first-pitch slider today from former Orioles reliever Nick Vespi and lined it into right field for a single at 107.4 mph. An earlier groundout registered at 104.9. Nothing subtle about his offensive game.

Everyone knows about the bat, which creates loud noises in the cage and at the plate. He launched more baseballs this morning in his pregame session at BayCare Ballpark. But the trip marked a special occasion for the 20-year-old Basallo – his first Grapefruit League start at catcher.

Basallo reported to camp last spring with a stress fracture in his elbow, an injury revealed on the first day. He rehabbed it and was limited to designated hitter duty.

Nothing is holding back Basallo this year. He set the target for left-hander Cade Povich and the relievers who followed until the bottom of the sixth inning.

“Thank God that it felt really good that I was able to catch today,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Yeah, I felt really good behind the plate.”

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Samuel Basallo is behind the plate for this afternoon’s game against the Phillies in Clearwater, the first road trip for the Orioles.

Colton Cowser is in left field after sitting out yesterday’s exhibition opener in Sarasota. Heston Kjerstad also makes his first appearance, starting in right field.

Coby Mayo is the designated hitter. Terrin Vavra is leading off.

For the Orioles

Terrin Vavra 2B
Colton Cowser LF
Emmanuel Rivera 1B
Heston Kjerstad RF
Coby Mayo DH
Samuel Basallo C
Nick Gordon CF
Vimael Machín 3B
Livan Soto SS

SARASOTA, Fla. – The first exhibition game is done, which brings us to the first road exhibition game. Gas up the rental and head northwest to Clearwater.

If you reach Dunedin, you’ve gone too far.

Left-hander Cade Povich starts against the Phillies after posting a 2.60 ERA and 0.868 WHIP in five September outings and holding opponents to a .162 average. He could be the first alternative if a spot opens unexpectedly in the rotation.

“Povich, what he did in the month of September kind of speaks for itself,” said MASN analyst Ben McDonald, who’s in camp as a guest instructor. “All I heard about him was his stuff was good in the minors, but could he get it over the plate, and I feel like he did in September. His stuff was pretty good.”

The exposure to major league hitters has accelerated Povich’s development.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jordyn Adams had a choice to make and he doesn’t regret the outcome.

Adams committed to the University of North Carolina to play baseball and football. He was a four- or five-star recruit as a wide receiver, depending on the source, but Major League Baseball viewed him as one of the top prospects in the 2018 draft.

The first decision for Adams involved picking a college, and the North Carolina native chose the Tar Heels over Alabama, Ohio State, LSU and Clemson. Still to come was whether to immerse himself in campus life or join a team’s farm system.

Adams never stepped foot on campus as a student. The Angels made him the 17^th overall pick, and the common perception was that he’d need to go in the first or maybe the second round to catch fly balls in center field instead of footballs on the gridiron.

The result so far is 28 games with the Angels over the past two seasons and a .176/.205/.216 slash line. He can play everywhere in the outfield and he’s hoping to play for the Orioles in 2025 after signing a minor league contract on Dec. 23.

This wintery weather – snow, freezing rain, ice that’s closing schools and turning backyard decks into hazardous rinks – heats up the interest in pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training.

The wait is almost over, with the official arrival date Wednesday and the first workout set for Thursday. Gentlemen, start your bullpen sessions and PFPs.

The first day will bring a media scrum with executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and possible injury news. Last spring’s session confirmed Kyle Bradish’s sprained elbow ligament and platelet-rich plasma injection, John Means being about a month behind the other starters, Gunnar Henderson’s sore oblique and Samuel Basallo’s elbow stress fracture.

Elias reminded reporters at the Birdland Caravan that he traditionally kind of forecasts “anybody who’s off or on an abnormal schedule when we get down to Sarasota, so I’ll probably do that in a couple of weeks.”

We already learned that Jorge Mateo and Félix Bautista will be on a lighter schedule early in camp. Bradish and Tyler Wells won’t be activated until the second half, with their move to the 60-day injured list approaching. The media finally will have access to them.

Let Albert Suárez be clear about this again. Practice for the next time that he’s asked.

Would he rather start or relieve? Relieve or start?

Does it matter to him?

“Not really,” Suárez replied at Friday night’s Birdland Caravan stop at PBR Baltimore. “Like last year, it didn’t matter, either. I was just ready for anytime. So this year will be the same mentality.”

Bets could be won by challenging fans to name the Oriole who made the second-most starts last season behind Corbin Burnes’ 32. Súarez tied with Dean Kremer at 24, and his 32 appearances tied Burnes for first among pitchers who didn’t work exclusively in relief.