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 – Only two games into the season and some Orioles fans are wondering why Heston Kjerstad isn’t in the lineup.

Why wait until Day 3? Do it now and avoid the rush.

Kjerstad entered Thursday’s game in the eighth inning and threw out Alejandro Kirk from right field. Asked about it afterward, manager Brandon Hyde said, “Heston and (Jorge) Mateo, quick tag, keep the tag on.”

“I gave Heston a little bit of a heads up, but not much,” Hyde added, “and goes in the game and makes a really nice play.”

Heston didn’t play last night in an 8-2 loss. No one pinch-hit, pinch-ran or entered for defense. Kjerstad sat on the bench and watched the Orioles be held to three hits.

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.

TORONTO – Grayson Rodriguez did some long tossing in the outfield this afternoon and headed to the visiting bullpen for his second session since the Orioles put him on the injured list with inflammation in his right elbow/triceps area. Rodriguez was shut down after a cortisone injection, but he’s started a throwing progression.

Manager Brandon Hyde clarified that the two sessions were a “short box,” with the catcher set up closer than 60 feet six inches. Rodriguez will have a light session Sunday from regular distance.

“Kind of a mini side, a really, really light side,” Hyde said. "So the side progression starts Sunday.”

Reliever Andrew Kittredge stood next to Rodriguez in the outfield and did some throwing. He’s recovering from left knee surgery.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop with Triple-A Norfolk to begin his rehab assignment. Hyde said Henderson probably will play at least seven innings.

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo is in tonight’s Orioles lineup at shortstop, with Jackson Holliday moving to second base and Jordan Westburg to third.

Mateo is batting ninth and Holliday rises to eighth.

Colton Cowser is leading off again and playing left field. Westburg remains the No. 3 hitter. Cedric Mullins moves up to sixth and Ryan Mountcastle drops to seventh.

Charlie Morton makes his Orioles debut. He’s started only twice at Rogers Centre and allowed two runs in 10 2/3 innings.

Bo Bichette is 5-for-16 with a double and home run against Morton, who at 41 years and 136 days is the oldest pitcher to start for the Orioles.

TORONTO – The Orioles had one of those days in the opener that goes from successful to surreal. Every at-bat seemed to approach, tie or set a record. Tracking it in real time was exhausting.

A 12-2 thrashing of the Blue Jays showed just how potent the offense can be – one of, if not the best, in baseball. And wait until Gunnar Henderson returns.

Don’t rush him back from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk. He might kill the mojo.

I’m kidding, of course. But don’t rush him.

Further review and reflection last night led to these observations:

TORONTO – The Orioles’ first game of the 2025 season concluded with a celebratory handshake line. They won’t be satisfied until the final out creates bedlam.

This was a thunderous start.

They scored six times in the first four innings today against tormentor José Berríos, including Tyler O’Neill’s sixth straight Opening Day home run, and Zach Eflin held the Blue Jays to two hits in six innings in a 12-2 victory at Rogers Centre.

Adley Rutschman and Cedric Mullins also homered by the fourth, Mullins belted a three-run shot in the seventh, Rutschman launched a two-run shot in the eighth, Jordan Westburg came up next and cleared the left field wall, and the Orioles improved to 22-9 on Opening Day since 1995, the best record in baseball.

The team’s six homers on Opening Day broke the record of four set in 1982 and 2006. They hadn’t homered six times in any game since July 9, 2023.

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo had a locker set up this morning in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre that belonged to Livan Soto for yesterday’s workout. The media saw Mateo as he walked into the room before the Orioles headed onto the field for stretching and batting practice.

His arrival in Toronto was confirmed. And he wasn’t here just to visit teammates.

Mateo made the Opening Day roster. He overcame elbow surgery and odds that didn't favor him.

“At the beginning of camp I thought it was doubtful, just because he hadn’t done a whole lot and there was still some rehab left to accomplish,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We got him a lot of at-bats over the last seven-to-10 days, and he played a lot of shortstop, played a lot of second base, stuff people couldn’t see. There was a lot of back field. We had a lot of arms throw to him and Gunnar (Henderson) just to get those guys a lot of at-bats.

“I thought it was getting closer to being an option of him breaking with us a few days ago, and then the last few days he had good at-bats, he played a lot defensively, he recovered really, really well, so we made the decision to have him start with us.”

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo flew into Toronto last night and is on the Opening Day roster after collecting a sufficient number of at-bats down in Sarasota.

Livan Soto worked out yesterday, but he didn’t make the final cut. The Orioles reassigned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Reliever Bryan Baker is on the roster. Matt Bowman cleared waivers and was outrighted to Norfolk. Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment.

Here’s the roster:

Starters
Zach Eflin
Charlie Morton
Dean Kremer
Tomoyuki Sugano
Cade Povich

TORONTO – The games start counting today. And not a moment too soon.

No more exhibitions, reentries and extras from minor league camp. The rules aren’t bent. Statistical declines aren’t excused because it’s spring training.

Let’s get serious.

The Orioles will try to finish above .500 for a fourth consecutive year, their longest streak since 1968-1985. They will try to make the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time since 1969-71.

It begins with their leadoff hitter, probably Colton Cowser, stepping into the box against Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos in the top of the first inning at Rogers Centre. Zach Eflin starts for the Orioles, reliving his Opening Day matchup with Berríos last year at Tropicana Field.

TORONTO – Orioles reliever Bryan Baker hasn’t been told anything.

Infielder Livan Soto hasn’t been told anything.

They have lockers in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Center and they participated in this afternoon’s workout. However, they didn’t receive confirmations that they’re on the Opening Day roster. Those conversations are on hold.

The assumptions are understandable, of course.

Matt Bowman and Roansy Contreras, the in-house competitors with Baker for the last bullpen spot, didn’t have lockers and they weren’t seen in the clubhouse or on the field.

Opening Day is getting closer. The Orioles are in Toronto and will work out this afternoon at Rogers Centre. First pitch is right around the corner.

We don’t know the exact composition of the roster and whether it’s really just down to Jorge Mateo vs. Livan Soto for the last position spot and Bryan Baker vs. Matt Bowman for the last bullpen spot.

There are other questions that require more time before they can be answered. For instance:

When will Grayson Rodriguez return to the rotation?

Rodriguez wasn’t available to the local media after his injury was revealed in Sarasota, offering a daily, very polite, “not today, sorry” at his locker. But he appeared again on Foul Territory yesterday and confirmed that he’s throwing a bullpen session in a few days as part of his ramp-up.

The renovations are completed on the left field wall at Camden Yards. It’s moved closer to home plate and lowered, a “happier medium,” as executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said in November. Mr. Splash was given a platform and more space to spray fans in sections 84 and 86, with the drenching distance extended from last season.

Fans also will notice a long platform to the left that serves as a viewing area for kids ages 12 and younger to be escorted and get a closer view of the action. They must be seated in sections 78, 80 and 82 to be eligible.

“We’re excited about the home run porch,” said president of baseball operations Catie Griggs. “We think it’s a really unique opportunity to welcome kids 12 and under closer to the field, escorted by parents, where they can have the opportunity to really feel part of the game in a way that’s pretty unique to this ballpark. Between that and Mr. Splash, we know that was a section that was sold out almost every single game last year. We want to make sure that we create experiences that are accessible to more people.”

The Orioles invited media to Camden Yards this morning to check out the newest additions to the ballpark, starting with an improved sound system that blared “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – the long-time, seventh-inning stretch song in Baltimore. Further upgrades will be made for the 2026 season.

The old sound and control systems were “fairly antiquated,” Griggs said, and recent changes have enabled the Orioles to create much sharper audio "not only for music on the field, which our players are pretty excited about, but also throughout the ballpark."

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.

The Orioles are chipping away at their camp roster. They've gotten it down to 36 players.

Veteran starter Kyle Gibson was optioned today to minor league camp after the Orioles signed him last week to a one-year deal. He was staying back in Sarasota, and manager Brandon Hyde told the media in D.C. that the ramp-up hopefully will have Gibson ready around May 1.

Catcher Maverick Handley and infielders Vimael Machín, Emmanuel Rivera and Luis Vázquez were reassigned to minor league camp.

None of these moves are unexpected. The Orioles are set behind the plate with Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez, who stayed healthy through camp. Livan Soto appeared to have an edge in the battle to replace injured shortstop Gunnar Henderson unless Jorge Mateo is deemed ready to play on Opening Day.

Mateo remains in Sarasota and is receiving heavy doses of at-bats over the next two days before a decision is made on his availability. He could join the team in Toronto or remain at the complex.

The Orioles finally can close out their exhibition schedule today and prepare for Thursday’s opener in Toronto. The fake games will be over.

Left-hander Cade Povich makes the start against the Nationals in D.C., a tune-up before he takes the ball for the first home game on March 31. Povich has pitched four times and the only runs allowed were the five that the Blue Jays put on the board in the fifth inning on March 13.

Povich followed up with five hitless innings in Tuesday’s rematch, putting him ahead of Albert Suárez for the fifth starter’s job. Suárez moves to the bullpen.

Colton Cowser bats leadoff today and plays left field. Jackson Holliday is the shortstop.

A lineup filled with regulars also includes Adley Rutschman behind the plate, Jordan Westburg at second base, Ryan Mountcastle at first base and Cedric Mullins in center field.

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 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. – The Orioles will play their last Florida exhibition game with Gunnar Henderson absent again. He hasn’t played since Feb. 27, and his uniforms remained in his locker this morning while teammates' gear was packed.

Colton Cowser is leading off and playing left field against the Braves in North Port. Other regulars on the trip include Adley Rutschman catching, Ryan O’Hearn at designated hitter, Ryan Mountcastle at first base, Tyler O’Neill in right field, Cedric Mullins in center and Jackson Holliday at shortstop.

Jorge Mateo is at second base. The Orioles haven’t confirmed whether he’s made the Opening Day roster.

Charlie Morton is starting, with Dean Kremer following. Félix Bautista also will pitch.

The Orioles’ spring training roster is down to 41 players with outfielder Dylan Carlson optioned to minor league camp. Carlson batted .321 with a 1.071 OPS in 18 games.