Orioles Rotation: Grading the First Starts of 2026
The Orioles' pitching rotation has been a focal point of attention this offseason, with the team showing a refreshing aggressiveness in adding starting pitchers. They traded for former Rays top prospect Shane Baz and signed him to a five-year extension, brought in veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, and re-signed 2025 Opening Day starter Zach Eflin. This talented group of starters is set to play a key role in the Orioles' quest to return to the playoffs.
After last night's loss against the Rangers, we've seen four of the five starters make their first start of the 2026 season. Let's break down the good and the bad from the Orioles' best arms.
Trevor Rogers: A Refreshing Start
Grade: A
Trevor Rogers' Opening Day start against the Twins was a refreshing display of his talent. He posted a 1.81 ERA across 18 starts last season, and his performance against the Twins only confirmed his status as the Orioles' Opening Day starter. Rogers' plan of attack remains the same: using his four-seamer to attack righties up and in, paired with a low and away changeup to keep hitters off balance.
His velocity on the fastball improved, touching 95 and 96 in the early innings. Rogers' breaking pitches, including the cutter and curveball, were executed perfectly, with a 50% whiff rate on the curve and 33.3% whiff rate on the cutter. Rogers' ability to navigate traffic was impressive, as he tied a season-high with four free passes but also set an Orioles career high by rolling three double play balls.
Despite not having the same strikeout stuff as Kyle Bradish, Rogers excels in pressure situations. The Twins consistently mustered only weak contact against him, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Rogers' best start from last year saw him pitch eight shutout innings, so his seven scoreless innings against the Twins earned him an A grade.
Kyle Bradish: Dominant Early, But Unlucky
Grade: C+
Kyle Bradish started the season with a dominant performance against the Twins, opening the game with a classic two-seamer to strike out Kody Clemens. He punched out Josh Bell in the 2nd on another two-seamer, before burying a slider to get Clemens swinging. However, Bradish's afternoon was cut short due to bad luck and the effects of the cold weather.
In the 4th inning, Byron Buxton led off by bouncing a curveball up the middle, reaching after barely beating the throw from Jeremiah Jackson at 2B. Buxton then benefited from defensive blunders, with a bad throw from Colton Cowser in CF allowing him to tag up from first, while a failed back pick by Adley Rutschman allowed him to go to third. The error by Adley meant Bradish's first run of the season was unearned.
Bradish's velocity and control dipped in the 5th inning, as he tried to compensate by leaning on his breaking balls. He walked leadoff batter Trevor Larnach and gave up a home run to Royce Lewis. The game time temperature was in the mid-40s, which could have contributed to his early exit.
Shane Baz: Grit and Promise
Grade: C-
Shane Baz's first start as an Oriole got off to a rocky start, but he showed grit in putting up 3.1 scoreless innings to close out his start. The former Ray's knuckle curve was sharp, limiting Twins hitters to a .167 average while generating two punchouts and a 40% whiff rate. His cutter was equally effective, holding Minnesota batters to a .143 and picking up two Ks on cutters up and away to Buxton and Lewis.
Baz's performance earned him a five-year, $68M extension, and while he didn't grade out as highly as Bradish, he flashed the kind of stuff that suggests better outings are on the horizon.
Chris Bassitt: Unlucky Opening Frame
Grade: D
Chris Bassitt tried to pull off a high-wire act, but his soft contact turned into soft hits and runs for the Rangers. The 37-year-old veteran got unlucky in his first inning as an Oriole, as a pair of singles turned into a run when an awkward comebacker forced Bassitt to rush a throw home, allowing a run to score as the throw skipped past Adley at the plate.
Bassitt struggled to put away hitters in the 2nd inning, as he tried to sequence his sinker low and in with a fastball up, only to badly miss on the fastball. Texas hitters had seven swings and misses against Bassitt's curveball, but he only generated three total outs and one strikeout on the breaking ball.
Bassitt's Orioles debut fell flat, but his veteran savvy and six-to-seven pitch mix should allow him to bounce back this weekend against the Pirates.
