Orioles pregame notes on weather, rotation, Cowser, Kemp and more

The Orioles don’t know if they’re going to start tonight’s game on time. They don’t know if play will be interrupted.

All they can do is try.

Manager Brandon Hyde was asked whether he gets “anxious” during these moments. If he worries about his pitching and other potential complications.

This isn’t his first lousy forecast.

“Well, you can only control what you can control. I can’t control the weather,” he replied, trying to suppress a grin.

“I don’t know. Hopefully, we play. I have no idea. Weather’s one of those things you don’t know. I hope we play tonight. Weather doesn’t look great tomorrow, either, so you have plan A, B, C and D, and hopefully we find a window, as the old saying says.”

Orioles starters have walked two batters and struck out 32 through four games of the season.

“Done a great job in the rotation so far this year,” Hyde said. “Throwing a lot of strikes, getting a lot of strikeouts. Working ahead in the count. I was really impressed with Dean (Kremer) yesterday. Could have unraveled on him early. Couple errors in the first, keeps his composure, gets through that inning. A couple homers, could have unraveled on him there, also, and he goes out and puts two zeroes up after that.

“We’re off to a good start rotation-wise."

It’s staying in order for the weekend series in Pittsburgh – Grayson Rodriguez Friday, Tyler Wells Saturday and Kremer Sunday.

Colton Cowser’s first start puts him in left field, a tricky assignment with the expanded territory and unique dimensions.

“We have a really good candidate in Colton Cowser and the way he came up as a center fielder and has really good range and can play three spots in the outfield,” Hyde said. “I moved him around quite a bit in spring training. We’ve had a big-time luxury here the last couple years with (Austin) Hays being able to play a lot out there in left field. For me, that’s been a real advantage of us over a lot of teams, the way he can play the outfield, especially how big it is out there in left field and how well he does that. But Colton’s got those types of abilities, also, and a guy that can play center field and cover a lot of ground and can throw.

“We feel good about putting him out there.”

Tony Kemp is in the lineup for the first time, starting at second base while Jordan Westburg moves to third.

"I just want to make sure to also give these guys a start," Hyde said. "Don't want to go too far and too long, try to get everybody involved early. Tony's played a lot in the big leagues. With a right-handed guy (Alec Marsh) that's a sinkerballer that maybe we can work the count against, we hope Tony can give us a little spark at the bottom."

The Orioles already have two comeback wins this season, giving them 86 since the beginning of the 2022 season to lead the American League and rank second in the majors behind the Dodgers (88).

For the Royals

Maikel Garcia 3B
Bobby Witt Jr. SS
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B
Salvador Pérez C
Nelson Velázquez LF
Hunter Renfroe RF
Garrett Hampson CF
Freddy Fermin C
Nick Loftin 2B

Alec Marsh RHP