The balance of power in the AL East has been dramatically altered, and the Baltimore Orioles find themselves at the epicenter of this shift. With Grayson Rodriguez set to miss the start of the season because of right triceps soreness and elbow inflammation, the Orioles’ pitching plans have been thrown in disarray. The highly touted 25-year-old prospect’s absence has been predicted to throw a wrench in their season by analyst Jake Storiale, who questioned their strategy without Grayson on the mound.
Rodriguez, who was expected to anchor the Orioles’ pitching, now faces an uphill battle to return to health. This was emphasized by Jake Storiale on his Talkin’ Baseball podcast, who spoke about the expectations placed on the 25-year-old by both the Orioles and their fan base. “This guy was supposed to be the guy,” Storiale said, adding, “Grayson Rodriguez was the top pitching prospect. He came up. Everyone saw the tools. If you have high hopes for the Orioles, I think this guy has to be a significant part of it.”
Rodriguez also missed a good chunk of the latter half of last season because of an injury. With him set to be out again, Storiale questioned his durability and pointed out the similarities to past problems. “We’re talking about similar stuff that the guy went through previously,” he said. What makes this situation worse for the Orioles is that their roster moves made it clear they were putting all their chips on Rodriguez. He is head and shoulders the best in their pitching staff, especially after losing Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
While a healthy Rodriguez will be crucial to the Orioles’ chances of making the playoffs for the third straight year, in his absence they will need their pitching staff to step up. Their immediate future looks grim. But ultimately, their success will be defined by their ability to find a balance between monitoring Rodriguez’s recovery while maintaining a competitive rotation in his absence.
Who could replace Grayson Rodriguez in the Orioles rotation?
With Grayson Rodriguez unavailable, the spotlight will be on the Orioles’ pitching depth. Their current rotation includes Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano. However, there are two players that are most likely going to start on the mound on the opening day. Veteran Albert Suárez and former top prospect Cade Povich.
Suárez’s experience could provide stability to the rotation. He also offers versatility with his capability to start or pitch in relief. Povich on the other hand, has really showcased his potential with his recent performances during spring training. He threw 5.0 shutout innings with seven strikeouts, allowing only a single hit and walk. Suárez, on the other hand, allowed eight earned runs on 13 hits and five walks, with only three strikeouts.
Going solely on these numbers, Povich is the clear choice. However, the spring training numbers don’t really matter; it is still concerning, especially for someone who could be tasked with replacing Grayson Rodriguez. Bryan Baker is another name that could be thrown in the mix. Although the front office resorting to bringing in a new ace can also not be discounted completely.
The Orioles’ coaching staff will have to task and evaluate their performances to make a strategic decision as they await Rodriguez’s return. Their approach will likely involve a combination of experience and adaptability. Although it will be interesting to see if they dip their toes in the market amid the absence of their ace as they look to navigate this early season challenge.
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