The young left-hander had a rollercoaster rookie season, but a strong finish in September and an impressive spring performance should give the Orioles confidence in his ability to step in for the injured Grayson Rodriguez.
For the second consecutive spring, the Orioles have faced setbacks on the pitching front. Last year, Kyle Bradish and John Means dealt with lingering arm issues that took longer than expected to heal. This time, it’s Grayson Rodriguez who has been sidelined with elbow discomfort, ruling him out for at least the start of the season.
Although Rodriguez is a key part of the Orioles’ plans for 2025, his absence doesn’t significantly impact their status as an American League contender. While he possesses ace potential, he has yet to fully deliver on that promise, and injuries have become an unfortunate pattern for him. Of course, if the injury proves to be serious, it could change the team’s outlook. Still, rival teams, especially the Yankees—who are also dealing with their own injury issues—are unlikely to show any sympathy.
The Orioles appear better equipped to handle injuries this season compared to 2024. They’ve added some reliable veterans through free agency and now have internal options who have gained valuable experience and demonstrated improvement. One such option is Cade Povich.
Povich was thrust into the major leagues last year amid a wave of rotation injuries. A fringe “Top 100” prospect with Triple-A experience, he wasn’t quite ready for a full-time big-league role, but the Orioles needed someone to log innings.
His debut was rough—allowing five runs over 5.1 innings against the Blue Jays—but he rebounded to post a 2.53 ERA over his next four starts, including six scoreless innings against the Braves. However, his performance took a nosedive in July, capped by a disastrous outing against the Athletics where he surrendered eight earned runs in just one inning. Over his next five starts, his ERA ballooned to 6.66, and he even found himself back in Triple-A for a stretch.
Everything changed in September, when Povich found his rhythm again. He kicked off the month with 7.1 scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts against the struggling White Sox, and followed that up with four more solid outings against the Red Sox, Tigers (twice), and Twins. During that span, he posted a 3.54 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings, holding opponents to a .162 batting average and recording a 0.87 WHIP.
Povich’s turnaround wasn’t accidental. He added a bit more velocity to his fastball, averaging 92.7 mph, and increased his usage of the pitch. This led to a spike in his swing-and-miss rate and more aggressive pitch selection, helping him stay ahead in counts and keep hitters off balance.
The final month of the season offered a much-needed boost to both Povich and the Orioles, proving that he could still get outs at the major league level. Heading into the offseason, he looked like a dark horse candidate to make the Opening Day roster, even with the addition of two veteran starters.
Rodriguez’s injury, coupled with Povich’s continued success this spring, has suddenly made him the favorite to fill the vacant rotation spot. In two spring outings, Povich has pitched five innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven. Though his competition level has been roughly equivalent to Triple-A hitters, it still demonstrates his ability to maintain his late-season form.
Albert Suárez, another potential option, hasn’t fared as well this spring, giving up eight runs over eight innings. With the Orioles possibly needing Suárez in the bullpen—especially after Andrew Kittredge’s injury—Povich’s case for a rotation spot only strengthens.
With more than two weeks until Opening Day, situations can still evolve, but Povich’s upward trajectory and higher ceiling make him the most appealing option. The Orioles can feel confident giving him the ball every fifth day, and if he continues to impress, he might just secure his role even after Rodriguez returns.