The 2026 season is in its infancy, but the Baltimore Orioles have already made multiple changes to their starting rotation. They lost right-hander Zach Eflin for the season after he tore his UCL on March 31, and they called up southpaw Cade Povich from Triple-A on April 5.

Before Monday's home matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks, they sent Povich back to Triple-A and called up right-hander Dean Kremer, who will start the game, per their social media. The 30-year-old will make his 2026 big-league debut.

Kremer started this season in Triple-A after allowing five runs over nine innings in spring training. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder went 11-10 with a 4.19 ERA over 31 outings (29 starts) last season and went 8-10 with a 4.10 ERA over 24 starts in 2024.

It's one thing to send a veteran pitcher down to the minors to start the season when the team doesn't immediately need him, but Eflin's injury changed the situation for Baltimore.

The club initially gave Povich big-league action after he went 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA over 22 outings (20 starts) last season. The 26-year-old has fared better so far this year, as he allowed two runs over 5.2 innings out of the bullpen in an 8-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 5 and allowed one run over 6.2 innings in his start against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. He earned the victory after the Orioles won 6-2.

However, Kremer still has a superior track record. Povich is 7-17 with a 5.02 ERA over 40 career outings (37 starts), while Kremer is 41-40 with a 4.26 ERA across 126 outings (123 starts). Povich is a promising young player, but Kremer is the reliable veteran that Baltimore currently needs as it tries to return to the playoffs after missing out in 2025.

Kremer now takes the No. 5 spot in the rotation behind ace southpaw Trevor Rogers, right-hander Kyle Bradish, right-hander Shane Baz, and right-hander Chris Bassitt. The Orioles acquired Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays and signed Bassitt in free agency this past offseason.

Baltimore is 8-7 entering Monday's series-opener against Arizona, while the latter club is 9-7. Right-handed pitcher Ryne Nelson will start for the Diamondbacks, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.

The Orioles will then play two more games against the Diamondbacks before hitting the road to face the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals.