TORONTO – Heston Kjerstad and Gary Sánchez make their first starts this afternoon against the Blue Jays.

Kjerstad is playing right field and batting sixth. Sánchez is catching and batting seventh.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter and Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base. Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O’Neill and Jorge Mateo are on the bench.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup. Jackson Holliday is the shortstop.

Dean Kremer makes his first start today. He has a 4.82 ERA and 1.536 WHIP in 11 career games against the Blue Jays. He’s allowed 10 runs and 24 hits in 22 1/3 innings at Rogers Centre.

TORONTO – Charlie Morton paced back and forth in the dugout, the frustration keeping the veteran starter on his feet. His Orioles debut lasted 80 pitches in only 3 1/3 innings, two inherited runners scored and a lead fell apart like his outing.

There will be better days and nights for Morton. This one was a challenge from the beginning with a barrage of hard-hit balls from a Blue Jays team perhaps still ornery from yesterday’s Opening Day beatdown.

Jackson Holliday homered in the third inning and Tyler O’Neill had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but the Jays put five runs on the board in the bottom half and won 8-2 at Rogers Centre.

No one’s getting a sweep in this series.

The Orioles raised the bar yesterday with 12 runs and six homers, but the bats calmed tonight. They were held to three hits and committed two errors.

The Orioles couldn’t play baseball yesterday because of the rain in D.C. In hindsight, it wasn’t worth rushing out of North Port on Sunday.

Grayson Rodriguez did some long tossing in the outfield at Nationals Park. Cade Povich told the assembled media that he hasn’t decided between Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” and Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” for his walk-in song. The roster held at 41 players after the Orioles selected Matt Bowman’s contract over the weekend and put Tyler Wells on the 60-day injured list, then shrank to 36 after Kyle Gibson was optioned to minor league camp yesterday and Maverick Handley, Vimael Machín, Emmanuel Rivera and Luis Vázquez were reassigned.

The two questions hanging heavy in the damp air remained whether Jorge Mateo replaces Gunnar Henderson and which reliever replaces Andrew Kittredge.

Mateo went from a “no” to “pretty doubtful” to a real possibility for Opening Day. The Orioles won’t bring him to Toronto if they think he needs more swings in Sarasota or if he isn’t ready physically, but the fact that they’re giving him heavy doses of at-bats the next two days is a positive sign. Of course, they’re doing the same with Henderson, but that’s more about limiting how much time he spends on the IL.

Livan Soto remained the favorite if Mateo isn’t on the roster. Machín and Vázquez also were exceptional in camp and they’d have guaranteed jobs in past years when the Orioles weren’t as deep and talented.

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.

NORTH PORT, Fla. – The Orioles aren’t required to set their Opening Day roster until noon Thursday, and a few decisions could bump against the deadline.

Most of mystery has dissolved. Cade Povich is the No. 5 starter, which puts Albert Suárez in a relief role. Félix Bautista had avoided the injured list. Only one spot remains in the bullpen and it could come down to Bryan Baker or Matt Bowman, who had an opt-out in his contract for today. Roansy Contreras is the third in-house consideration.

Jorge Mateo played second base today and will get simulated at-bats Monday and Tuesday before the Orioles determine whether to bring him to Toronto. His availability seems to directly impact Livan Soto, though Luis Vázquez and Vimael Machín also remain on the camp roster.

The shuffling is caused by Gunnar Henderson’s strained right rib cage muscle that is keeping him in Sarasota. Henderson would be eligible to return on April 3 with his IL stint backdated to Monday.

“I mean, it’s unfortunate that he’s going to miss the start of the season, but it is a long season,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We do feel like we have other options. We have a lot of talented infielders. We’re still kind of finalizing the last position there, but Gunnar’s one of the best players in the league, so it’s hard to replace. Hopefully we can pick up the pieces around him a little bit and play well while he’s gone.”

SARASOTA, Fla. – The penultimate home game of the exhibition season finds Ramón Urías in tonight’s lineup for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson, however, remains out of it.

Urías is playing third base, Jackson Holliday is at shortstop and Jordan Westburg is at second base.

Tyler O’Neill is in left field, Colton Cowser is in center and Heston Kjerstad is in right.

Cedric Mullins is leading off and serving as designated hitter.

Hot-hitting Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are playing a doubleheader today if you count Spring Breakout, which follows the Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The over-hyping makes me break out in a rash, but fans get a chance to see 21 of the top 30 prospects in the organization. Catcher Samuel Basallo leads the way, and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. will try to build on his one-game hitting streak after last year’s bunt single in Bradenton.

I understand that one game doesn’t constitute a streak. Here are a few other things that we (think we) know:

* OK, this one is confirmed: Zach Eflin will be the Opening Day starter. I pegged him as the favorite when the Orioles arrived for spring training, and Grayson Rodriguez’s elbow inflammation cemented his chances.

Experience and track record gave Eflin an edge. Rodriguez has the higher ceiling but won’t reach it with a sore elbow. Check back next spring.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Zach Eflin entered camp this spring as the favorite to receive the Opening Day start on March 27. Grayson Rodriguez’s injury seemed to make it official.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde did so this afternoon. It’s happening as expected.

Hyde announced that Eflin, 30, will face the Blue Jays on March 27 at Rogers Centre, the right-hander’s second Opening Day assignment in a row after handling the honors for the Rays in 2024.

Eflin threw four innings on a back field recently while the Orioles played the Yankees in Tampa. He’s started twice in the Grapefruit League and allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

"I told him today," said Hyde, who was joined by pitching coach Drew French, pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek and bench coach Robinson Chirinos. "He's very appreciative and he understands how much it means, so that was a very cool moment.

SARASOTA, Fla. - The reprogramming of baseball’s former No. 1 prospect easily fits as one of the most interesting developments in Orioles camp.

There’s no need to go over Jackson Holliday’s numbers again in 2024. They weren’t good. He was a 20 year old tackling the challenges that the majors present. Expectations shot through the roof, and that’s Holliday’s fault for being such an exceptional young talent.

“I think that when you’re 20 years old and you get to the big leagues, the hype that you get, and you put up the minor league numbers that you do, people are expecting you to do the same thing when you get to the big leagues,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “And a lot of times that’s just unrealistic.”

Holliday replaced the leg lift timing mechanism with a toe tap and went 7-for-18 to close out September. The Orioles had specific instructions for him after the season – focus on reaching base and being disruptive. Bunt more, run more, be aggressive. The club would reel him in if necessary.

The former first-overall draft pick is 3-for-5 in stolen base attempts after swiping second base during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Twins. He was instrumental in an inning that Hyde described later as his favorite of the spring, with three runs manufactured in small-ball fashion. Putting the ball in play with runners in scoring position and with shortened swings, and creating flashbacks to 2023.

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles remain hopeful that Gunnar Henderson is on their Opening Day roster, but they know the importance of a good contingency plan.

Jackson Holliday made his first spring start at shortstop tonight against the Pirates, hitting a double and single to left field and committing an error on his first and only chance.

“With Gunnar out right now, unsure of the timetable, but he’s doing really well,” manager Brandon Hyde said this afternoon. “He’s progressing well, but we’re not sure when we can get him back into game action. Jackson’s going to be playing shortstop here periodically the rest of camp.”

Henderson’s strained rib cage muscle led the Orioles down an alternate path with Holliday. They wanted him to get more comfortable at second base. Guest instructor Brian Roberts corrected his footwork, trying to strip him of a shortstop’s approach to fielding the ball and making feeds. But he could do more switching to the left side.

“It’s definitely different,” Holliday said. “It’s one thing to practice it, but to play it in a game and read the ball off the bat, kind of the angle that it comes in, it’s obviously very different, but I should make that play every single time. But hopefully I don’t have to play both. Hopefully, Gunnar gets healthy real quick and I can just stick over at second until they tell me they need me. But if that is the case, I’m up to the challenge.”

BRADENTON, Fla. – Jackson Holliday is starting at shortstop tonight, as the Orioles head to LECOM Park for another game against the Pirates.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Holliday could make a start at short with Gunnar Henderson unable to play since Feb. 27 due to a strained right intercostal. This is one of them.

Holliday made three appearances (one start) at short with the Orioles last season.

Jordan Westburg is playing third base. Ramón Urías sliders over to second base. Ryan O’Hearn is at first.

Samuel Basallo is catching. Heston Kjerstad is the right fielder.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles won’t pinch-hit for Adley Rutschman during the regular season, but the many differences and oddities in spring training sent Vimael Machín to the plate for the All-Star catcher in the fourth inning of Thursday night’s game against the Pirates.

Machín struck out, which also seemed unusual because he’s been on fire.

A second at-bat produced a fly ball to the center field fence, an extremely long out influenced perhaps by the wind, and a third resulted in a line drive single to right.

Last night’s game in Lakeland began with Machín batting .500 (9-for-18) with a double, home run, five RBIs, two walks and a 1.272 OPS. No one had more hits, a higher average and OPS, or appeared in more games than Machín’s 10.

Coming off the bench late, Machín singled in the ninth inning to start a three-run rally. He’s 10-for-19 and one of the most impressive players in camp.

LAKELAND, Fla. – Félix Bautista is making his second spring training appearance tonight, as the Orioles hit the road to face the Tigers.

Bautista retired the Red Sox in order Monday afternoon in Sarasota.

Jordan Westburg is out of the lineup after returning to it last night. Gunnar Henderson remains out with a strained right intercostal, and manager Brandon Hyde will provide an update later.

Jackson Holliday is leading off tonight, followed by Ramón Urías at third base. Heston Kjerstad is in right field, Coby Mayo is the designated hitter and Samuel Basallo is catching.

Liván Soto is the shortstop.

Samuel Basallo is serving as the designated hitter this afternoon, as the Orioles make another Sunday trip to play the Phillies in Clearwater.

Gary Sánchez is behind the plate.

Ramón Laureano gets the start in center field and is batting leadoff, followed by second baseman Jackson Holliday.

Colton Cowser is in right field and Heston Kjerstad is in left. Coby Mayo is at third base.

Dean Kremer makes his first start after giving up two runs and three hits with two walks and three strikeouts over two relief innings against the Tigers in Sarasota.

SARASOTA, Fla. – A week of exhibition games seems like an appropriate time to share some observations before the Orioles play the Pirates this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Cade Povich opposes Paul Skenes in a rematch from Spring Breakout, except this one airs on MASN.

Povich went three innings and allowed two runs, but hardly anyone noticed because Skenes was the dominant figure before he threw a pitch. Skenes retired the side in order in his only inning, striking out Jackson Holliday and Enrique Bradfield Jr.

That's the distant past. Let’s move a little closer.

* Rodolfo Martinez is a camp darling, though I wouldn’t necessarily use that word around him because the scowl could melt concrete. Media became infatuated with his high-velocity fastball, impressive side and live batting practice sessions and absence from an affiliated team since being in the Giants system in 2019. Who doesn’t love a good camp story?

Comparisons to Albert Suárez were inevitable because of their similar treks through foreign countries. In Martinez’s case, he’s still waiting to make his major league debut.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Zach Eflin makes his exhibition debut this afternoon, with the Orioles traveling to Fort Myers to play the Twins.

Gary Sánchez is behind the plate for Eflin.

Coby Mayo gets the start at first base.

Jackson Holliday is leading off and playing second base. Colton Cowser is in center field, Heston Kjerstad in left and Dylan Carlson in right.

Liván Soto, who’s 3-for-6 with two doubles, is the shortstop.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Jackson Holliday gave the media an interview at his locker this morning and headed down a hallway in search of former Orioles infielder Brian Roberts.

The Orioles chose Roberts as a shortstop in the supplemental round of the 1999 draft out of the University of South Carolina – their seventh selection among the top 50 and the only one that worked out. Jackson Holliday was the first-overall pick as a shortstop in 2022 out of Stillwater High School in Oklahoma.

Roberts moved to second base following the 2001 season and became a two-time All-Star. The position morphed into a full-time role for Holliday last year, a 20-year-old top prospect going through the usual growing pains.

The age difference between them doesn’t matter. They have something important in common, and Roberts, 47, is in camp as a guest coach and valuable resource for Holliday.

The tutelage centers primarily on Holliday’s footwork at second.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The next wave of Tomoyuki Sugano hysteria crashes on the shore today with his Grapefruit League debut against the Pirates. Protect yourselves at all times.

The first game of catch, first bullpen session and first live batting practice session were recorded and plastered all over social media. The Japanese media that tracks his every movement didn’t miss a single minute of it. The local beat crew fell into step. The anticipation was palpable.

Pitching in Bradenton isn’t the most ideal location from a media standpoint. The press box space is limited, to put it generously. Reporters who cover the Pirates usually set up in the workroom. That leaves a free-for-all to occupy one of the three stools in the back row.

You can’t call it “standing room only” because there’s no room, though standing might improve your view.

Statcast data is available at LECOM Park, which enhances today’s coverage. Sugano throws six different pitches and tracking is made easier. Let’s be able to identify them and attach numbers. And give me exit velocities from the hitters.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Chayce McDermott still hasn’t been cleared to begin activities. However, he said earlier today that he feels “really good” after reporting to camp with a mild lat/teres strain.

“Can’t complain where I’m at,” he said, “so we’ll keep going and keep following the plan.”

McDermott is restricted to performing strength exercises and doesn’t know when he’ll be begin a throwing progression.

“It should be pretty soon,” he said. "I’m not 100 percent sure of the exact timeline. It’s just based on how I feel with everything and how I keep progressing.”

McDermott made his only major league start last season on July 24 in Miami and had an uphill climb this spring to break camp with the team. His injury likely has eliminated that possibility, but he can hop back into Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation, continue his development and try to rejoin the Orioles over the summer.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The exhibition games started today and Jackson Holliday kept working out.

He wasn't on the back fields. He was playing second base and fielding everything hit at him.

Holliday got the final out in the first inning on Darick Hall's grounder, made the play on Liover Peguero's ball in the second that Albert Suárez deflected, and handled Joshua Palacios' grounder to close out the inning.

The position no longer is new to Holliday and it seems to be coming more naturally to him.

"I'm feeling a lot more comfortable," he said. "Today was good. Got a lot of ground balls, a lot more than I think I did last spring training total, so happy about that. I'm a lot more comfortable, a lot more comfortable in practice, and to be able to get the first few ground balls out of the way is great."