Comparing the current and opening day rosters for the Orioles

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Roster turnover happens quite frequently, and no roster is the same in the final month of the season as it is in the first month of the season. That is especially true for the Baltimore Orioles, who have relied on lots of players as they push for a playoff spot, which would be their first since 2016.

In the spirit of comparisons and flashbacks, let's take a look at how the Orioles roster looks entering play on September 5 and how it stacks up to how the roster looked at the end of March. It comes with the disclaimer that the roster has expanded to 28, but it's a comparison nonetheless.

How does the Orioles September roster compare to the opening day roster?

CATCHERS: Adley Rutschman, James McCann

Rutschman and McCann have been a pretty stable tandem behind the plate all year for the Orioles. However, McCann was on the 10 Day IL to start the season, necessitating Anthony Bemboom to be on the opening day roster.

The Orioles have also used Mark Kolozsvary in one game, while also carrying Luis Torrens and José Godoy at separate times but with neither appearing in a game. Godoy and Bemboom are presently with Triple A Norfolk, though Bemboom is on the 7 Day IL. Kolozsvary and Torrens are no longer in the Orioles system.

INFIELDERS: Ryan Mountcastle, Adam Frazier, Gunnar Henderson, Jorge Mateo, Ramón Urías, Jordan Westburg, Ryan O'Hearn

There has been a bit of shuffling on the infield front this season. None of the infielders on the opening day roster are gone, with O'Hearn and Westburg having been added to the picture. O'Hearn has been a revelation in the lineup, while Westburg is a top prospect becoming an everyday player in the infield.

One player from the opening day roster no longer in the bigs is Terrin Vavra, who made the roster as the super utility player. He played second and third base along with both corner outfield spots and got some reps at DH. Vavra has been on the 7 Day IL for Norfolk since early June and was recently sent on a rehab assignment to Low A Delmarva.

OUTFIELDERS: Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, Ryan McKenna, Aaron Hicks

The same starting three of Mullins, Hays, and Santander have been mainstays, unsurprisingly. It's the bench that has done some shuffling. McKenna has been up and down between the majors and Triple A due to Colton Cowser and Aaron Hicks needing playing time.

Kyle Stowers, who cracked the opening day roster, has been down in Norfolk for a while and seemingly passed on the depth chart. He's currently on Norfolk's 7 Day IL after being hit in the face with a pitch last week.

The big change has been the addition of Hicks to the group. Added midseason after the Yankees released him, Hicks has a .257/.356/.429 slash line with the Orioles, hitting six home runs to go with three stolen bases, one triple, and four doubles in 45 games. Hicks and McKenna being in the fold are roadblocks in the way of Cowser and Stowers from being in the majors, though that's not necessarily a bad thing.

How does the Orioles September roster compare to the opening day roster?

STARTING PITCHERS: Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish, Cole Irvin, Grayson Rodriguez, Jack Flaherty

The starting rotation has been shaken up, with the original five being Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, Cole Irvin, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells. They've since shifted to six starters, with Wells being optioned to Double A Bowie after hitting a metaphorical wall. Rodriguez and Flaherty have joined the rotation.

The Orioles are fortunate to have had a healthy starting rotation for the majority of the season, with only Keegan Akin starting a game outside of the names previously mentioned. They've shifted to six starters to keep everyone rested well and also to manage innings, and it's worked so far.

RELIEF PITCHERS: Cionel Pérez, Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano, Shintaro Fujinami, DL Hall, Joey Krehbiel, Jorge López, Jacob Webb

Behold, the most changed part of the Orioles roster. Out of this current group, only Danny Coulombe and Cionel Pérez have been in the bullpen all season. Cano has been stellar since a callup near the end of April, Fujinami was a trade pickup in July, Webb and López were waiver claims, while Krehbiel and Hall started the year with Norfolk alongside Cano.

For context of how much this has changed, here's the opening day bullpen: Félix Bautista, Cionel Pérez, Bryan Baker, Danny Coulombe, Mike Baumann, Austin Voth, Keegan Akin, Logan Gillaspie.

Bautista would be on the roster still if it weren't for a UCL injury, Baker was optioned to Norfolk at the start of August, while Baumann had a strong stretch in the majors before struggling and being sent down on August 23. Akin is on the 60 Day IL with lower back discomfort, Voth is in limbo after being DFA'd, while Gillaspie was recently claimed by the Boston Red Sox on waivers.

So, while this roster has had plenty of mainstays, there has been plenty of shuffling around the fringes and even in the starters mix, with the pitching staff unsurprisingly being right in the middle of the roster churn. This roster looks completely different now, and that's a good thing for these Orioles.

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