Looking at some Orioles’ roster possibilities

BALTIMORE—After the Orioles surprisingly sent pitcher Dean Kremer to minor league camp, their starting rotation was set with Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin.

However, injuries have brought uncertainty to their Opening Day roster.

It’s been known for weeks that neither second baseman Jackson Holliday nor third baseman Jordan Westburg would start the season with the Orioles, who open the regular season on Thursday at home against the Minnesota Twins.

It doesn’t appear as though Holliday’s absence from surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist will be long. He’s expected to start a rehab assignment on Friday with Triple-A Norfolk.

Westburg, though, will be out for a while. After he received a platelet-rich-plasma injection last month in his right elbow because of a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament, president of baseball operations Mike Elias ruled Westburg out until at least May 1^st. On Saturday, Elias said it would be longer, declining to be specific but predicting it would last into May. The Orioles are hoping Westburg doesn’t eventually need surgery.

“This is an IL situation that’s going to go into May even in the best-case scenario,” Elias said. “Things are going fine so far, but we still have a lot of time ahead of us, but right now we’re not at the point of having a timeline for him.”

It appears as if Coby Mayo will start at third on Opening Day, and that Blaze Alexander will be at second.

Reliever Andrew Kittredge isn’t going to start the season with the Orioles, either. That’s been known for several weeks, but his right shoulder inflammation seems to be getting better, and he should join Holliday at Norfolk.

Kittredge’s absence allows for another reliever to trot down the orange carpet on Thursday, and maybe two. There’s a likelihood that left-handed reliever Keegan Akin won’t be on the Opening Day roster, either.

Akin suffered an adductor injury, more commonly known as a groin injury, when he was warming up to pitch in Saturday’s game. He’ll have an MRI on Monday.

The bullpen lineup hasn’t been announced, but Ryan Helsley, Yennier Cano, Tyler Wells, Dietrich Enns and Rico Garcia appear to be good bets. So does left-hander Grant Wolfram, who’s had an outstanding spring.

Albert Suárez, who would have to be added to the 40-man roster, Yaramil Hiraldo and Jackson Kowar are in contention for final spots, though Elias acknowledged on Saturday that he would be checking the waiver wire to add to the bullpen and perhaps elsewhere.

“We’ll see the severity of it where we’re at,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “But just like anything in this game, you have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If it is an IL case, there’s going to be some big shoes to fill, but I’m confident that we have guys in that clubhouse that can step up … Now it’s someone else’s turn to step up.

“I feel like we have the talent and the depth to navigate that tough stretch.”

Questions remain about the infield’s composition. Pete Alonso will be at first base and Gunnar Henderson at short. For now, it looks like Alexander at second base and Mayo at third.

Ryan Mountcastle, who played first base on Sunday, might be mainly a designated hitter against left-handers, but there are still several utility infield candidates on hand, including Jeremiah Jackson, José Barrero, Bryan Ramos, Luis Vázquez and Weston Wilson.

Jackson and Ramos are on the 40-man roster.

While outfielder Heston Kjerstad didn’t appear likely to be included on the 26-man roster, he’s expected to join Holliday, Kittredge, Westburg and perhaps Akin on the injured list. He’ll have an MRI on his strained right hamstring on Monday.

The outfield appears mostly set with Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Leody Taveras and Taylor Ward.

Beavers was scratched from Friday night’s game with right knee discomfort, and he and Albernaz say they’re not concerned about the condition. If it turns out that Beavers’ injury is a concern, the Orioles might have to look outside for another left-handed hitting outfielder. They’re not likely to rush talented prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. to the majors and instead could add Will Robertson, who hit .129 in 27 games last year with the Chicago White Sox and Toronto.

Jhonkensy Noel remains on the spring training roster. “Big Christmas” hit two home runs in the final two games in Sarasota this spring, but he’s a right-handed hitter.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com