After entering 2026 with postseason expectations and one of baseball’s most promising young cores, the first quarter of the season has been anything but smooth for the Orioles.
Sitting at 18-23, the team has been tested by injuries and stretches of underwhelming play.
But despite the uneven start, fans have also seen flashes of potential surface — from standout individual performances to stretches that suggest this club could still find its footing as the season progresses.
“You don’t want to let the numbers and the wins and losses tell you how to feel about the team,” infielder Jeremiah Jackson said. “We have a really talented ballclub, and I think we’ve had a lot of bad luck. I think that it’ll flip eventually, and we’ll be in a good spot.”
As the Orioles move deeper into the year, here’s a first-quarter report card breaking down how each position group has performed so far.
Starting Pitchers: D
The starting rotation has been one of the club’s biggest disappointments through the first quarter of the season.
Entering the year, Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish were expected to anchor the group, but injuries have prevented the rotation from establishing any real stability.
Too often, when one starter delivers a strong outing, the momentum disappears the following night with another short start or a struggle to get through opposing lineups cleanly.
Rogers, Bradish, Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz each are carrying an ERA of 4.75 or higher.
The lack of consistency from game to game has made it difficult for the Orioles to build rhythm during series and has frequently put pressure on the offense to play from behind early.
Just as concerning has been the inability to pitch deep into games. Baltimore’s starters have consistently struggled to work into the later innings, resulting in a gassed bullpen early in the season.
Bullpen: C
The bullpen has spent much of the first quarter operating without much breathing room. Due to the starting rotation’s inconsistency, Baltimore’s relievers have been forced into heavy workloads night after night.
Despite the workload, the bullpen has largely managed to keep the Orioles competitive and deserves credit for stabilizing games that could have unraveled quickly.
“We’ve got three more quarters left, and there’s plenty more time to right the ship and just get things going,” said reliever Rico Garcia, who has filled in as the club’s closer with Ryan Helsley (elbow inflammation) out. “It’s kind of just having a steady, steady mindset throughout the whole season. Just trusting in our ability and just going out there every single day with a ‘Day One’ mentality.”
But the warning signs are beginning to surface.
For instance, reliever Grant Wolfram recently endured a stretch during which he pitched in four games across five days — a reflection of just how taxed this group has become.
While manager Craig Albernaz has left no stone unturned searching for the perfect combination of rested arms in the bullpen, the point remains this unit is facing unsustainable pressure.
And if this situation persists, velocity dips and late-game command issues may begin to appear more frequently.
Catchers: B
The Orioles have received steady production behind the plate between Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman, who have been two of the club’s best hitters through the first quarter of the season.
With the rotation rarely pitching deep into games, Orioles catchers have been tasked with navigating a revolving door of arms on a nightly basis. That responsibility has only increased the importance of communication and defensive reliability behind the plate.
Considering the demands placed on the pitching staff early in the season, the catching group has quietly been one of the steadier areas of the roster.
Infielders: C+
It’s been a mixed bag for the Orioles infield through the first quarter of the season with Jackson Holliday (hamate) and Jordan Westburg (elbow) out.
Defensive miscues have crept in, and stretches of uneven offensive production have prevented the group from becoming a true driving force of the lineup.
Still, there have been glimpses of potential defensively.
One recent example came from a late April game against the Houston Astros when Coby Mayo flashed quick reaction speed and strong hands on a barehanded play at third base to steal an out on a ball hit down the line. Plus, it prevented a potential rally.
The infield has delivered strong individual performances at different points, but consistency has been the missing piece.
With the pitching staff often putting added pressure on every inning, the infield’s ability to cleanly convert outs and extend offensive production remains an area where Baltimore is searching for more reliability moving forward.
Outfielders: B
There have been enough steady at-bats and timely contributions to keep the group above water. Leody Taveras and Taylor Ward highlight the group’s offensive contributions.
The outfield hasn’t carried the lineup, but it has avoided prolonged slumps across all three spots at once — a stark difference from some of the team’s other position groups.
Photo Credits: Colin Murphy/PressBox