3 recent Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers you've forgotten about

When the Baltimore Orioles announced that Zach Eflin would start the Orioles' first game of the 2025 season, few were surprised. Following the departure of last season's Opening Day starter Corbin Burnes, Eflin made the most sense for the honor this season after starting Game 2 of the AL Wild Card last year and pitching well in his Orioles debut in 2024. This was especially true after the Orioles announced that Grayson Rodriguez would miss time to start the season with a right triceps injury.

Usually, there is little surprise or wonder with the Orioles' Opening Day starter. Last season it was Burnes, the Orioles' big acquisition last winter. During the Orioles' run in the mid 2010s, Chris Tillman started three straight Opening Days from 2014-2016. John Means, who at times felt like the Orioles' only dependable starter during the latest rebuild, took the mound on Opening Day in 2021 and 2022.

But then there were some past Opening Day starters that may cause you to raise an eyebrow. Sometimes, due to injuries or simply a lack of better options, a player you may have forgotten about took the ball on Opening Day. This article examines three of the most obscure Opening Day starters in recent memory.

Some of the Baltimore Orioles' past Opening Day starters may surprise you

Tommy Milone, LHP: July 24, 2020 at Red Sox

You would be forgiven if you forgot that journeyman lefty Tommy Milone ever pitched for the Orioles. But if you remembered that he actually started Opening Night at Fenway Park during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, that would be truly impressive.

Milone was one of a handful of veterans the Orioles added to fill out their rotation in 2020, along with Wade LeBlanc and Thomas Eshelman. Because John Means was injured, Milone drew the start and as expected, struggled. Milone pitched two clean innings before the Red Sox got to him in an empty Fenway Park in the third inning, scoring four times and ending his night after three innings. The Red Sox blasted the Orioles 13-2, with the Orioles runs coming on a Rio Ruiz solo home run and an RBI double by Renato Nunez. Interestingly, Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, and Anthony Santander played in that game, with Hays and Santander starting.

Milone actually pitched decently in six starts for the Orioles in 2020, posting a 3.99 ERA before being traded to the Braves at the late-August deadline. But the fact that Milone drew an Opening Night start for the Orioles in 2020 shows just how dark things were in Birdland during this last rebuild.

Andrew Cashner, RHP: March 28, 2019 at Yankees

The Orioles signed veterans Andrew Cashner and Alex Cobb in 2018 as part of their last-ditch effort to compete with their core of Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Chris Davis, Zach Britton, Darren O'Day and Jonathan Schoop. As Orioles fans know, 2018 was a disaster, with the Orioles losing an astounding 115 games and trading Machado, Britton, O'Day, Schoop, and Kevin Gausman.

The Orioles' rebuild quietly began in 2019; however, without Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, or the other young talent that spearheaded the rebuild, the Orioles still had some misfit veterans on a bad team. Such veterans included Jonathan Villar, Freddy Galvis, Chris Davis, Cobb, and Cashner. It was the veteran Cashner who drew the Opening Day start in the Bronx in 2019. Cashner struggled, allowing six runs over four innings in a 7-2 loss. Aaron Judge scored three times and Luke Voit hit a first-inning three run home run off of Cashner in the rout.

Cashner actually pitched admirably in 2019, going 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA before the Orioles traded him to the Red Sox in July 2019.

Jason Hammel, RHP: April 3, 2013 at Rays

Although Jason Hammel is an obscure Opening Day starter for the Orioles, he undoubtedly earned the Opening Day nod in 2013. Hammel, whom the Orioles acquired with reliever Matt Lindstrom in exchange for Jeremy Guthrie before the 2012 season, was arguably the Orioles' ace in 2012 and started Game 1 of the ALCS against New York. He was 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 2012 and entered 2013 as the Orioles' expected ace.

Hammel pitched decently in an 7-4 Opening Day win at Tropicana Field, allowing three runs over six innings and earning the win. However, he struggled in his second season in Baltimore, pitching to a 4.97 ERA over 23 starts. 2013 wound up being Hammel's final season in Baltimore.

Now here we are in 2025, with Eflin taking the ball on Opening Day against the Blue Jays. And unlike in 2019 and 2020 with Cashner and Milone, the Orioles are starting Eflin not out of necessity but because they believe he has the best chance to get the team off to a good start in 2025.