The Baltimore Orioles announced a roster decision before Friday's game against the New York Yankees.
The Baltimore Orioles enter Friday still searching for stability in a season defined by injuries to their pitching staff. Their rotation has been hit repeatedly, beginning with Zach Eflin being ruled out for the year after undergoing right elbow surgery.
Trevor Rogers, the team’s ace in 2025, is on the 15-day injured list with an illness, and reliable rotation depth arm Dean Kremer is also sidelined. With so many pieces missing, Baltimore has been forced to dig deeper into its system for help.
That need led to another roster decision ahead of Friday’s matchup with the New York Yankees. The Orioles announced hours before first pitch that left-hander Cade Povich had been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start Friday’s game against the New York Yankees. Right-hander Cameron Foster was optioned in a corresponding move.
This marks Povich’s second call up of the season, and Baltimore is hoping he can provide innings at a time when the rotation is stretched thin. The 26-year-old southpaw has made two appearances for the Orioles in 2026, one out of the bullpen and one as a starter, and has performed well in both roles. Across 12 1/3 innings, Povich owns a 2.19 ERA with seven strikeouts and even picked up a win in one of those outings.
Consistency has been the challenge for Povich throughout his career. Now in his third MLB season, he has struggled to establish himself at the big-league level, but the opportunity in front of him is clear.
With multiple starters unavailable, the Orioles need someone to seize a rotation spot, and Povich will get that chance on Friday against one of the best teams in the American League.
Baltimore once viewed Povich as a key part of its future. A former third-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, he showed promise early but battled command issues and inconsistency over the past two years.
He opened this season in Triple-A, but the injuries above him have created an opening he could not have earned more quickly on his own.
The Orioles enter Friday at 15-16, a disappointing mark after one month of play, especially after making big splashes in free agency this past winter. With the rotation depleted and the schedule toughening, they need someone to stabilize things.
If Povich can deliver in the Bronx, he may finally carve out the role Baltimore once envisioned for him.