No matter how the opening day lineup is stacked today, and it should duplicate the one wasted yesterday by the postponement, the Orioles are going to make at least five changes from the 2020 version. They shouldn't need to wait another day unless the Red Sox determine that the sun is too bright. José Iglesias won't be batting third and playing shortstop. Renato Núñez won't be batting fourth and serving as designated hitter. Chris Davis won't be playing first base and batting fifth....

The Orioles won't play today in Boston, but they're able to set their opening day roster by the noon deadline. There are no surprises beyond the early rainout. Outfielder DJ Stewart is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Reliever Shawn Armstrong is on the paternity list, keeping him away from the team for a maximum of three days. Reliever Travis Lakins Sr. is optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, but manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that the assignment could be...

The Orioles will reveal their 2021 opening day roster Thursday morning, but the final strokes are applied now to provide a full picture. There's just one more to go. Third baseman Maikel Franco and outfielder Anthony Santander will be on the roster and avoid a trip to the alternate camp site. Santander won't have any restrictions after missing the last six exhibition games with oblique soreness. Relievers Dillon Tate and Cole Sulser also are traveling to Boston after today's workout, but...

The rotation names and order are done. Now, we find out how the Orioles plan on monitoring their pitchers' innings with the season stretching back to 162 games. Dean Kremer goes to the end of the line as the youngest member at 25, providing a peek into the club's strategy. Bruce Zimmermann is a year older and tabbed as the No. 3 starter. He took the mound first for today's exhibition finale against the Rays and surrendered three home runs over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to the Rays at Ed...

The Orioles' five-man rotation is set and announced. Manager Brandon Hyde said today that Jorge López will start the fourth game of the season on April 5 against the Yankees in the Bronx, with Dean Kremer following him on April 6. The group turns over with opening day starter John Means closing out the series and Matt Harvey starting the home opener on April 8 against the Red Sox. López came into camp out of minor league options and perhaps viewed as more likely to work in long relief,...

Veteran pitcher Félix Hernández has opted out of his contract with the Orioles, a source confirmed this morning. Hernández goes back into free agency after agreeing to a minor league deal with the Orioles that paid $1 million if he made the club. Elbow soreness forced Hernández out of his last start after the first inning of a March 16 game in Port Charlotte. He retired the side in order, but manager Brandon Hyde noticed bad body language on the mound that hinted at an...

A roster that holds 36 players in camp and must be pared to 26 apparently won't undergo its final cuts today. Maybe some light trimming, maybe nothing. But manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that there probably won't be 10 moves. The Orioles weren't likely to break camp without a utility player on the roster. Now they're basically carrying two with Pat Valaika and Ramón Urías. Still counts in my book if one of them is starting at second base. A second baseman who appeals to the...

Baltimore native Bruce Zimmermann has done more than just make the Orioles roster as they prepare to break camp. He's emerged as the No. 3 starter. Manager Brandon Hyde announced today that Zimmermann, a graduate of Loyola Blakefield, will close out the series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. John Means and Matt Harvey are slotted ahead of him. Zimmermann has allowed only one hit in nine scoreless innings this spring while coming out of the bullpen. He's walked three batters, struck out 10...

There are two games remaining in spring training. But even with so little time remaining, the Orioles roster is still in flux, as the activity on Saturday proved. The starting second baseman, Yolmer Sánchez, was designated for assignment and a pitcher not in the organization was acquired by trade, as the club added Adam Plutko from Cleveland for cash considerations. As for what we know or think we know to this point: * John Means and Matt Harvey will start the first two games, with the rest...

The roster cuts announced on Friday night seemed to make it easier to come up with the 26 players going north for opening day, and then pandemonium struck again. The Orioles designated second baseman Yolmer Sánchez for assignment yesterday and traded for pitcher Adam Plutko. The projected lineup was destroyed. There no longer appeared to be a decision pending between utility players Pat Valaika and Ramón Urías, who potentially could share second base and bench duties. Plutko is out of...

The search for pitching won't keep executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias glued to the waiver wire and free agent market. He resorted to a third option late this afternoon. Elias acquired right-hander Adam Plutko from the Indians for cash considerations and gave manager Brandon Hyde more innings coverage to begin the regular season. He also raised a few interesting questions that he addressed after an 8-5 loss to the Braves in North Port. Plutko can work as a starter and reliever,...

Yolmer Sánchez no longer can be penciled in as the Orioles' starting second baseman on opening day. The Orioles have acquired right-hander Adam Plutko from the Indians in exchange for cash considerations and declared Sánchez would be designated for assignment. The 40-man roster remains full. The camp roster remains fluid. Opening day projections remain unreliable. Plutko, 29, was the Indians' 11th-round draft pick in 2013 out of UCLA who's made 50 appearances (36 starts) in the majors...