Albernaz had some high praise for his catching tandem.
The Baltimore Orioles may not have the record to match just yet, but their manager is already making a bold case for one part of the roster that nobody should overlook.
Craig Albernaz didn't hold back when talking about his catchers this week.
"I'm biased, but I'd say we have the best catching tandem in baseball," Albernaz said. "They're doing a great job at the plate and leading our pitching staff."
The catchers in question are Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, and right now there is plenty of evidence backing up that claim.
The two have been the most productive catching duo in the league through April, and they are doing it in completely different ways.
Rutschman is Rolling
Rutschman is hitting .345 with a 1.018 OPS through 15 games this season, a big turnaround from a rough 2025 that saw him post career-worst numbers.
The two-time All-Star battled a left ankle injury that landed him on the injured list earlier this month, but since coming back he has looked like the same player who won a Silver Slugger in 2024.
He has launched three home runs and his plate discipline remains among the best in the American League for catchers.
When Rutschman is right, Baltimore's entire lineup shifts into a different gear because he sets the tone from the middle of the order.
Basallo Keeps Getting Better
Then there is Basallo, the 21-year-old who has been scorching the ball lately and showing why Baltimore invested so heavily in his future.
Over his last six games, Basallo is hitting .550 with two homers and five RBIs while looking more and more comfortable in the batter's box.
On the season he is slashing .233/.325/.452 with five home runs.
Baltimore signed him to an eight-year, $67 million extension last August for exactly this kind of ceiling, and the raw ability is starting to translate in a real way.
Making it Work
What makes this tandem special is how Albernaz has structured the workload.
Rutschman handles the majority of the catching duties while Basallo slots in at designated hitter when both are in the lineup, keeping both bats in the order without forcing either player to sit.
The setup gives Baltimore two catchers who can control a pitching staff from different angles.
The Orioles sit at 14-15, still below .500 and trying to find their footing in a tough AL East.
Injuries and inconsistency have defined their first month.
But the front office has reason to feel good about the direction of the catching position, especially with both players swinging the bat like this.
If Rutschman and Basallo keep producing, Albernaz might not need to qualify his opinion with "biased" much longer.