Hyde on the rotation, Wright and Ruiz

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles won't engage in serious discussions about the back end of their rotation for a few more weeks. Whether one starter will hold down the fifth spot breaking camp or if using an "opener" really is a viable alternative.

Manager Brandon Hyde and executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias will swap opinions while poring over the roster. Elias already has brought up the possibility of an opener while speaking to the media on the first day of spring training.

"I think we want to stretch some guys out, we want to see what we have rotation-wise. And then I think as we kind of get closer we'll get together and see what our feelings are with the back end of our rotation," Hyde said.

"The game is moving in a direction where people are being more creative and are being more open to newer ideas, and not being set in certain things by having players versatile and bullpens versatile and possibly rotation versatile. When it comes to being able to match up well against another club, I just think the traditional way isn't ... I think every club is different now and so I think teams are more open to trying new things."

Using a reliever to pitch the first inning, followed by the passing of the baton, would be a new technique for Hyde. The Rays and Athletics were among the teams to benefit from it last season, and the Brewers tried in in the playoffs after already putting their starters on a shorter leash.

"I had never seen it," Hyde said. "We didn't play Tampa and no one in the National League really did that last year, at least against (the Cubs). Milwaukee would pull their starter a little bit maybe earlier than most people because their bullpen depth was unbelievable, especially in September. But I'm looking forward to seeing it.

"I'm open to anything to help you win a game. So, obviously, some teams had success with it, and I'd be open to being creative like that and giving us the best chance to win."

As the game evolves, designating five starters and trying to stick with them throughout the summer is becoming an antiquated mindset.

"You definitely want more than five starters because if you can go five starters throughout the season, you're really fortunate," Hyde said. "You obviously want to build up a bunch of guys, you want to have depth. There's things that happen all the time, so to have as many options as you can to be in the rotation is definitely best for us.

"I think this spring we're going to kind of see what our back end of our rotation looks like, see the arms that we have and then evaluate it from there."

Mike Wright wants to be considered again as a starter after heavy usage out of the bullpen the past two seasons. Forty-six of his 48 appearances last year came as a reliever, and all 13 in 2017.

Fresh eyes can benefit Wright, but not as much as throwing strikes and getting outs.

"Obviously, we know what Mike's done the last few years and we're going to give him an opportunity to kind of stretch out a little bit and kind of see what we have and get him to work with our pitching guys," Hyde said.

"I'm excited to watch him pitch. I think he would like to be stretched out and be considered as a starter, but we have a lot of guys who kind of fall into that category. We're going to do what's right for the club and for him and see where it all fits in in the end."

Wright has registered ERAs of 5.76 and 5.55 the past two seasons, and his WHIP rose from 1.320 to 1.625. He averaged 3.8 walks per nine innings, the highest of his career, and the areas in need of improvement were easy to ascertain.

"With us it's a little bit more of an aggressive mindset in the zone," Hyde said. "I think he'll let you know he sometimes would pick and pitch away from contact. I think all of our guys, I just want them to really focus on being aggressive in the strike zone and letting their stuff play. Understanding when to expand and when not to expand. Not just being able to get ahead early and then throwing two or three wasted pitches where now the hitter has an advantageous count.

"We want to try to attack on the mound, and I think as camp goes you're going to see more of that. I think guys early are really getting their feet wet a little bit and kind of getting a feel for things, and that's very, very common. But in general, we're looking to be aggressive in the strike zone, and Mike falls right into that category."

Wright is out of options and the Orioles could break camp again with him in the bullpen rather than expose him to waivers or attempt to trade him. And he'll proceed in camp unsure of his exact role.

"It's part of the game where ... and we had Mike Montgomery in Chicago. Kind of a bounceback guy from the standpoint of, was a starter his entire minor league career. We get him, he goes in the bullpen, then he makes spot starts," Hyde said.

"Obviously, for their sake, (the pitchers) would love to know what they're going to do, but it's just not realistic in this game because of injury and the way rosters kind of fall sometimes. So you just want to stay positive with them and tell them to hang in there. But yeah, in an ideal world everybody has kind of a set role of what they're going into. But with a six-month season it's just not realistic."

Today's lineup against the Rays includes Rio Ruiz at third base. He hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Sunday's game and is pushing for the third base job.

The Orioles claimed Ruiz off waivers from the Braves at the Winter Meetings, figuring he could become the starting third baseman or platoon with the right-handed-hitting Renato Núñez.

"I saw him in Atlanta when we played the Braves. He played third base for a series. I loved his swing. I remember I was talking about it and then we played them," Hyde said.

"He came in in great shape and he looks fantastic, so I've been really impressed with him. I'm looking forward to getting him as many at-bats as possible. We're going to play him at both corners, both sides of the field, just for reps. And I'm going to try to get him in there as much as I can. I really want to get a good look at Rio.

"I think he's got a handsy swing. He's got a real good feel for hitting. That was awesome to see him stay behind one and hit one in the air pull-side the other day. So I think that it's going to be a really good camp for him. He's going to get a big look."