Predicting the 2022 Baltimore Orioles Starting Rotation

It’s still early on in the offseason, but it doesn’t hurt to predict the Baltimore Orioles’ 2022 starting rotation right now

Depending on rumored trades, John Means is a lock to be in the starting rotation, and a guarantee to be the Baltimore Orioles‘ Opening Day starter. He has proven himself as a reliable starter when he’s not dealing with nagging injuries. As of now, nobody else on the Orioles roster will be able to overtake Means as the Opening Day starter.

Slots two through four won’t be as easy, but it’s going to be fun to predict. The players will be Keegan Akin, Zac Lowther, Mike Baumann, and Grayson Rodriguez.  Akin, Lowther, and Baumann will have a shot to make the Major League roster with an impact performance during Spring Training.

We all got a chance to see Keegan Akin, Zac Lowther, and Mike Baumann during the 2021 season, so it will be great to see if they can improve now that they all have experience facing Major League hitting. Akin struggled in 2021, but improvement towards the end of the season was evident, which is very encouraging moving forward.

Baltimore Orioles top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez will be the fifth starter after making the team out of Spring Training. General Manager Mike Elias mentioned during a game broadcast near the end of the 2021 season that Rodriguez will get a good chance during Spring Training to break camp with the Major League team in 2022.  He has all the tools to make an impact next season after dominating his time in the minor leagues.  Lots of fans will be excited to see Rodriguez on the big-league roster.

A dark horse to make the 2022 Baltimore Orioles rotation will be Dean Kremer.  He’s definitely struggled during his time in the rotation, but he has had chances to improve by being sent down to the minors in the 2021 season.  Let’s hope that Kremer takes the necessary steps to improve and makes the case to be either in the starting rotation or bullpen for the 2022 Baltimore Orioles.