The Baltimore Orioles need something to perk up the offense early in the season, and the task in doing so Tuesday night could come against a two-time Cy Young Award winner.
The Orioles will take on the visiting Texas Rangers, who seem to have right-hander Jacob deGrom lined up as the starting pitcher. The starter for Texas was listed as TBA on Tuesday morning, with manager Skip Schumaker not yet ready to commit to deGrom, who was skipped in his first scheduled start of 2026 because of neck stiffness.
No matter who they face, the Orioles need to find some magic in their bats. Baltimore has eclipsed the two-run mark only once in four games.
“We did have some chances, but obviously couldn’t get the hit,” first-year Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said following the series-opening 5-2 loss Monday night. “We did a good job battling, got good pitches to hit, but then we just couldn’t cash in when we needed to. The bats are still there, it’s just we’re just a click off right now. It’s something once our offense gets going, I think our offense is really going to take off.”
Albernaz said there will be some lineup adjustments regardless of any slumps. There will be an emphasis on keeping players ready, he said, so that more than anything could determine how the lineup looks from day to day.
“You envision this roster where you have 13 quality position players that can go out there and play,” Albernaz said. “Now it’s making sure you find guys at-bats.”
deGrom (12-8, 2.97 ERA in 2025) was scratched from a would-be start on Saturday in Philadelphia but is making progress.
“Another good day (Monday),” Schumaker said. “And we’ll see how he feels (Tuesday).”
deGrom called the sore neck “really aggravating,” but he said the lead-up to the season went well.
“It’s the first start of the season (so) let’s not do something where it’s multiple weeks,” he said.
He’s coming off a season with his most victories since winning 15 games while with the New York Mets in 2017. deGrom is 5-0 with a 1.34 ERA in five career appearances against Baltimore.
The Rangers would like to avoid another so-called bullpen day after navigating through one of those during the weekend.
“Our bullpen has been worked,” Schumaker said. “They’ve done amazing.”
Three relievers combined for three shutout innings Monday night.
Right-hander Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.93 ERA in 2025) will be the starter for the Orioles. He was on the injured list for the final couple of months last season due to back surgery, so he’ll pitch in his first regular-season game since July 28.
Eflin didn’t face the Rangers last year, though he’s 1-1 with a 6.97 ERA in two career matchups with Texas.
Three relievers covered 4 2/3 innings for Baltimore on Monday, something that appears to have avoided putting too much stress on the available pitchers for the second game of the season.
“That’s what the (bullpen) guys do,” Albernaz said of chewing up innings. “That’s a thankless job out there.”
Compared to the Orioles, Texas has been much more consistent at the plate. The Rangers have scored 21 runs through the first four games.
The Rangers have strung together victories without production from third baseman Josh Jung, who’s 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts this season. He struck out twice in five at-bats Monday.
–Field Level Media
