Lingering questions about the lineup

If it's too early to make final calls on the Orioles' 26-man roster, the same rule should apply to the opening day lineup.

The mind starts to work on it with the announcement that the Red Sox are starting left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez on April 1 at Fenway Park.

Begin building the right-handed order.

The Orioles could go left-on-left from the leadoff spot with center fielder Cedric Mullins abandoning switch-hitting. He homered off a southpaw last night, but also was batting ninth.

They could put Austin Hays in left field, Anthony Santander in right, decide between Rio Ruiz or Pat Valaika at third base if Maikel Franco is optioned to get more at-bats, Freddy Galvis at shortstop, Yolmer Sánchez at second base, Trey Mancini at first base, Pedro Severino behind the plate and Ryan Mountcastle in the designated hitter role.

That's one version.

Franco obviously is in the lineup if he breaks camp with the team. Valaika seems more likely to stay as a lone super-utility player, but Ramón Urías hasn't been removed from the battle. He's still standing.

They can't keep both and also carry Ruiz unless DJ Stewart, who's appeared in only three games due to a strained hamstring, has to go on the injured list. He's supposed to return this weekend, which would seem to guarantee his inclusion, barring a setback.

The DH at-bats anticipated for Stewart could dry up at least a little bit. Manager Brandon Hyde has been posting lineups with Mullins in center field and Hays in a corner, which in the regular season moves Mountcastle to first base and Mancini to DH, or the other way around.

Santander also could DH on a "rest" day, as he did last night, and Franco and Ruiz are possibilities depending on roster structure.

Of course, Stewart could be in right with Santander as DH or reserve.

Lots of moving parts.

Santander was removed for a pinch-runner last night in the fourth inning after an automatic double, but not due to an injury.

"I took him out because the AB when he was on first base he ran four or five sprints on 3-2 counts and then scored on a ball off the wall, and I didn't want him to run anymore," Hyde said in his Zoom call. "He's starting again (Saturday). He's starting in the outfield. I just got him out after three at-bats."

Mancini said last night that his defense at first base is rusty. He's moving back to his natural position after missing the 2020 season.

"It's a work in progress," Hyde said. "The guy missed a full year, he hasn't played first base regularly in a long time and he's putting in a lot of work on the back fields every day, him and Manso (Tony Mansolino). We're just going to be patient with him because he just hasn't been over there much, and it's a little different working on a back field than getting live game action.

"He's going to play a lot these last couple weeks at first. We'll try to catch him up."

Meanwhile, reliever Zach Pop apparently is making a nice impression with the Marlins, who traded for him after the Diamondbacks chose the Orioles' minor league in the Rule 5 draft.

Brought along carefully due to his Tommy John surgery in 2019, Pop has thrown three scoreless innings this spring with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

The Cubs returned pitcher Gray Fenter to the Orioles. Pop is more advanced, pitching again at Double-A Bowie prior to his surgery, and may not be coming back.

Marlins insider Craig Mish tweeted the following yesterday morning:

"After seeing him in person last night, and speaking to people about him, I'll be stunned if the Marlins return Rule 5 RP Zach Pop. Needs more development but I think he makes the club. Put him down in pencil."