As their starters dazzle, should the Orioles consider a six-man rotation?

Not many expected Trevor Rogers' stellar start in Boston just over a week ago. After a tough end to the 2024 season in Baltimore, Rogers delivered his best start in an Orioles uniform against the Red Sox, tossing over six innings with two hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. His velocity took a noticeable jump, and fans got their first true flash of what the O's traded for at last year's deadline.

At that outing's conclusion, Rogers was sent back down to Triple-A Norfolk, as he was the 27th man for Baltimore's doubleheader up in Beantown. The rotation needed a spark and got one. Since that outing, the Orioles have seen a lot of strong performances.

Charlie Morton's 2025 season has seemingly turned 180 degrees, as the veteran right-hander has combined to toss over 12 innings of two-run baseball in his last two starts since re-entering the rotation. Dean Kremer seems to have found his footing, too, with over 11 innings of one-run ball in his last two starts. Zach Eflin tossed seven scoreless in his last start, and Tomoyuki Sugano keeps on chugging. The only member of the rotation to have a rocky last outing, Cade Povich, had allowed just three total earned runs in his previous two starts.

Orioles have the depth for a six-man rotation

When the Orioles needed pitching options at the beginning of the season, they didn't have many. Now, Baltimore finds itself without room for Rogers. Go figure. Should they find a way to fit Rogers into the rotation?

June is jam-packed. The O's have just two days off the rest of the month, giving them sixteen consecutive days with a game from the 10th to the 25th. That doesn't leave much margin for error in the rotation or bullpen.

If Baltimore keeps a five-man rotation for that stretch, any "blowup" games from a starter would be devastating for a bullpen that does not currently have a "long man." With Morton back in the rotation, Keegan Akin and Matt Bowman are most likely the best options to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen.

Perhaps the Orioles can find a win-win. Rogers certainly showed enough in his first start in the bigs to be worthy of another, and adding a sixth to the rotation could help eat some innings.

The month could be make-or-break for the O's playoff chances, and each move will need to be carefully calculated. Rogers could help provide some answers.

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