The first week of the 2026 season is in the books, and with it, the Baltimore Orioles have wrapped up its opening homestand.
A 3–3 start — winning the opening series against the Minnesota Twins and dropping the other to the Texas Rangers — is hardly disastrous, but it falls short of the expectations surrounding this club. Even in a small sample, comparisons to last season have already surfaced, particularly as injury concerns linger from prior to Opening Day.
There are, however, clear differences between this roster and the 2025 group. The Orioles feature several new faces, improved depth and a more overall balanced lineup, bolstered by right-handed power that was previously lacking.
With that in mind, we present our first installment of The Great, The Good & The Ugly for the 2026 season.
THE GREAT: TREVOR ROGERS
Trevor Rogers has picked up exactly where he left off in 2025, reinforcing why O’s manager Craig Albernaz tabbed him as the Opening Day starter.
Rogers opened his season with seven shutout innings against Minnesota, then followed with six innings of two-run ball against Texas, earning wins in both outings. The consistency mirrors his 2025 campaign, when he allowed two runs or fewer in 16 of 18 starts and recorded 13 quality starts.
Through 13 innings, Rogers is 2–0 with a 1.38 ERA. He has allowed just one extra-base hit, struck out eight, induced four double plays and held opponents to a .200/.294/.222 slash line.
The Orioles could not have asked for a better start from its ace of the pitching staff to start the season.
THE GOOD: TAYLOR WARD
When the Orioles traded Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels for Taylor Ward this offseason, the move was widely viewed through the lens of risk, parting with a talented but injury-prone arm rather than acquiring a cornerstone bat.
Fast forward a week into the season, and Rodriguez is back on the injured list, while Ward has provided offensive production atop the O’s lineup. He has appeared in all six games, reached base in five and has reached base multiple times in four of them.
Ward has collected eight hits over his last four games, striking out just twice during that stretch while consistently setting the tone at the top of the order.
For the season, Ward is slashing .333/.393/.417 (.810 OPS) with eight hits, including two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored. He has also drawn three walks against five strikeouts and carries a .400 BABIP.
THE UGLY: ZACH EFLIN
Zach Eflin’s placement here is less about performance and more about availability.
In his lone outing, Eflin struck out seven over 3.2 innings before exiting with right elbow discomfort, an issue that quickly landed him on the injured list. Imaging was scheduled for April 1, though no update has been provided.
After three IL stints in 2025, the hope was for a reset. Early on, Eflin looked sharp enough to suggest that might be the case. Since being acquired on July 26, 2024, this marks his fifth trip to the IL.
Baltimore recalled Albert Suárez in a corresponding move, though his initial usage in relief leaves uncertainty around how the Orioles will handle Eflin’s rotation spot moving forward.
For now, the club — and Eflin — are left waiting for clarity, hoping this proves to be a minor setback rather than a continuation of an unfortunate trend in Charm City.
The Orioles now head out on their first road trip of the season, beginning with a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates followed by three more against the Chicago White Sox.
As the season moves into its second week, the focus shifts toward identity. Can Rogers continue to anchor the rotation at a high level? Will Ward sustain his early impact and help power a deeper, more balanced offense? And how the Birds navigate Eflin’s absence may offer an early glimpse into the depth the front office believes sets this team apart.
Tune in next week to see who makes our next edition of The Great, The Good & The Ugly.
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