Three Orioles questions to consider

Rather than ask (beg?) for more mailbag questions, I decided today to pose a few of my own.

Here are three for you to consider. Share your answers.

If the Orioles don’t acquire a No. 1 starter, should Zach Eflin or Grayson Rodriguez start on Opening Day?

Eflin has the edge in experience and track record. He’s also good, so the assignment wouldn’t be based only on those two factors.

The Rays named Eflin their Opening Day starter this year, and he held the Blue Jays to one run through five innings before the game unraveled for him in a five-run sixth. He surrendered three home runs in an 8-2 loss.

The Orioles acquired him for three minor leaguers in a deadline trade and he posted a 2.60 ERA in nine starts, limiting his walks as he’s done for much of his career. He turns 31 in April. He makes sense.

Rodriguez brings the high ceiling and expectations that he’d develop into an ace. Health has held him back, including a couple of lat/teres strains and shoulder inflammation. He went 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 20 starts and averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Wild Card roster didn’t include Rodriguez due to the lat injury. He couldn’t get ready in time. But he’ll be full-go in camp and able to compete for the assignment if Eflin is the only starter standing in his way.

Who is the No. 5 starter?

The answer depends on whether the Orioles make another addition to the rotation. You can take both scenarios into account.  

Eflin, Rodriguez and Dean Kremer are expected to be arranged in the top three if executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias can’t find another starter, or if he brings in an arm that’s plugged into the back of the rotation. Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano signed for $13 million and could be fourth or fifth – again depending on what else happens in the offseason.

If there’s room for one more, the Orioles can choose between Trevor Rogers, Albert Suárez and Cade Povich. They’ll also check out Chayce McDermott and Brandon Young, who would be the longest shots.

I can see Suárez working in long relief and being available as a swingman. I’m not sure whether the Orioles would use Rogers, Povich and the others in that role or prefer to have them starting in Triple-A.  

Would you platoon Jackson Holliday?

I'm saying that Holliday breaks camp with the team. Let's start there. Anything else is a separate debate.

Holliday was 4-for-40 against left-handers this year, but he struggled across the board with a .213/.265/.340 line against right-handers. Don’t lean too heavily on that first stat. He hit .296 with a .387 on-base percentage versus lefties in the minors in 2023.

Switching from the leg lift to a toe tap as a timing mechanism brought some positive results late in the season. The Orioles have every reason to believe that a better version of Holliday is coming.

The platoon question isn’t just about Holliday. It’s also about Jordan Westburg, who could be the right-handed option while Ramón Urías plays third base. Or Coby Mayo if he’s on the roster and still getting reps at the hot corner. His future could be at first.

Westburg made 64 starts at third base this year and 41 at second. You can decide how much emphasis you put on his .230 average and .294 OBP against lefties. I won’t be consumed by it.

Jorge Mateo also can factor into this debate if he’s fully recovered from his elbow surgery. His status for Opening Day is uncertain, but he can play second base, as well.