Reliving relief possibilities for Orioles on Opening Day

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles aren’t close to deciding the 26 players who fit on their Opening Day roster. The majority, perhaps. But too many battles are short of completion.

In an eight-man bullpen, Mike Baumann seems to have gone from candidate to solid lock with 4 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings. The only baserunner reached on a walk, and he’s struck out five batters.

The velocity is up. The rhythm in his delivery is better. He’s out of minor league options.

He’s on the roster.

If we’re compiling a list of Orioles who enhanced their break-camp chances, I could go with Baumann first unless I flip-flop him with outfielder Colton Cowser or left-hander Keegan Akin.

You know who else belongs in that scrum, as long as we’re talking about the bullpen? Dillon Tate didn’t pitch in 2023 and has earned the right to be introduced on March 28.

Tate recorded another scoreless inning Wednesday night, his fifth in five appearances, and he’s surrendered only one hit. He looks like … Dillon Tate.

That’s what the Orioles asked for, and it’s a reasonable request. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just be the guy from 2022.

He’s on the roster. Forget those two minor league options. Pretend they don’t exist, like your embarrassing college stories.

Craig Kimbrel is the closer, and a fat Florida ERA and WHIP didn’t change his status. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last two appearances, and he picked up the win yesterday while lowering the ERA to 11.25 and WHIP to 2.25 in four frames.

“Fastball looked like it had a little bit more life, and a little bit more every single time,” said manager Brandon Hyde, “so trending in the right direction.”

Yennier Cano and left-handers Danny Coulombe and Cionel Pérez also are going north if healthy. The Orioles would like for Pérez to have some momentum leaving camp and he’s got time.

"The stuff is there," said pitching coach Drew French.

That leaves two spots and I’m working under the assumption that Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin are in the rotation.

Going back to Akin, he retired all four batters faced Wednesday night and struck out three, leaving him with 6 1/3 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and eight strikeouts. He’s got an option and sits on the roster bubble, but I like his odds a heck of a lot more than I did back in January.

“It’s great to see Keegan Akin out there healthy and working at the tempo he works with a really sneaky fastball and good secondary stuff,” Hyde said. “I’ve been really impressed. He’s had a great spring training.”

Being a guy who can go multiple innings also brings a high level of appeal.

Jacob Webb has allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings and he’s out of options. If spring numbers matter with Webb, he needs to dial it up. But do they?

The Orioles could hold onto Baltimore native Bruce Zimmermann for long relief. They could hold onto Julio Teheran for long relief. Do we live in a world where neither one makes it?

The competition pool also includes Bryan Baker, Andrew Suárez, Albert Suárez, Nick Vespi, Kaleb Ort and Matt Krook.

Albert Suárez has tossed nine innings and been scored upon in only one, though it was a three-run first Sunday in Dunedin. He could be a length guy, and he wasn’t anywhere near my radar before camp. What a crazy development.

Andrew Suárez must be mentioned in any bullpen breakdown. He’s done just about everything possible to be considered as a third lefty, with six scoreless innings and only two hits allowed before surrendering his first run Wednesday in the ninth. Also missing from my radar before arriving in Sarasota. Joked about getting Albert and Andrew confused.

That doesn’t happen anymore.

Hyde stretched out Vespi to two innings yesterday and he responded with five strikeouts. He's allowed two runs and struck out nine batters in seven innings.

Don’t get too comfortable with your mocks. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias can drive by and splatter mud on them.

He traded Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser on April 3, 2022 and many fans freaked out over the perceived raising of the white flag. The Orioles won 83 games. He traded for Coulombe last spring as camp was reaching its conclusion. The Orioles won 101 games.

I’m expressing confidence in Kimbrel, Cano, Coulombe, Pérez, Baumann and Tate. The limb I’m willing to climb remains fairly short.

This team needs a long reliever, which brings me to Teheran versus Zimmermann. A third lefty seems important, which brings me to Akin.

I’m going Teheran and Akin, with the caveat that we still have 11 games remaining and relievers can pitch their way on and off the roster.