Orioles spring training lineups provide helpful look into future lineup expectations

Aside from big free agent acquisition Tyler O'Neill's absence from the Orioles' first two spring training games, there were not many surprises in manager Brandon Hyde's starting lineups this past weekend.

The Orioles opened their Grapefruit League season at home against the Pirates by starting most of their expected regulars for the 2025 season. Indeed, the spring "Opening Day" lineup included projected starters Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Cedric Mullins in center field, Jordan Westburg at third base, Jackson Holliday at second, Ryan Mountcastle at first, and Ryan O'Hearn at DH. This lineup was hardly a surprise, as managers traditionally start their regular players in spring home games and have those less accomplished guys ride the busses around Florida for away games.

This was the case for the Orioles' second game, a road trip to Clearwater to take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Unlike Game 1, which featured Gunnar Henderson at lead off, Terrin Vavra had the honor in Game 2. Vavra was joined by prospects Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo who, while important players, are unlikely to travel north with the Orioles when camp breaks. The away game lineup also featured Emmanuel Rivera, who was designated for assignment earlier this winter, minor league free agents Nick Gordon and Vimael Machin, and utility infielder Livan Soto. The only Orioles expected to make the team that traveled to Clearwater were Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad.

The Orioles' first two Grapefruit League lineups featured regular starters in their home debut and primarily bench players and minor leaguers in their first road game - that's by design

Cowser's and Kjerstad's presence in Clearwater supports a longstanding rule that teams must travel with at least some big-league players road spring training games. Indeed, one or two players will generally draw the short straw and have to ride the bus with the non-MLB players, and it appears Cowser and Kjerstad got the call on Sunday.

This unwritten tradition is common among other Major League teams as well. For example, in the Astros' road game against the Cardinals on Sunday, the only regular to travel was catcher Yainer Diaz (the Astros won the game 11-6 without any other regulars - go figure). The Mets played the Nationals on the road on Sunday as well, yet none of their big-name players, such as Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, or Brandon Nimmo made the trip. Instead, the team was led by starting catcher Francisco Alvarez (who was DHing) and platoon outfielders Jesse Winker, and Tyrone Taylor.

Meanwhile, the home team Nationals started most of their regulars against those Mets, including CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Nathaniel Lowe, and Josh Bell. As a final example, the Blue Jays visited the Red Sox in Grapefruit League play Sunday. Not surprisingly, Blue Jays stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Anthony Santander, and Bo Bichette did not have to travel, while the Red Sox had starters Alex Bregman, Triston Casas, Trevor Story, and Ceddanne Rafaela in the lineup. The Blue Jays backups won, 8-7. Again, go figure.

So what does this all mean in the grand scheme of things? Not a whole lot. It means that we should not expect veterans like Mullins, Mountcastle, Rutschman, or Henderson to see much time on the road this spring.

Road games are also where we will likely see players trying to land one of the final spots on the roster or starting in Triple-A, such as Mayo, Rivera, Soto, and Machin. In sum, as a guide to which spring training games you'll want to follow this year, home games will likely feature Orioles you should expect to see playing this year, while road games will feature (for the most part, sorry Colton Cowser) prospects and scrappy players trying to keep their major league dreams alive.