Why Cade Povich Is Quietly Important to the Baltimore Orioles’ Rotation

In a year that brought many waves of inconsistencies, the Baltimore Orioles’ starting rotation stood out as a bright spot in a season that had a disappointing finish.  

While the Orioles’ offense saw a lackluster year outside of a stellar campaign from Pete Alonso in his first year with the team, Baltimore was able to rely on a handful of starting pitchers down the stretch of the season. At the same time, the rotation was able to fend off a significant amount of injuries.

However, one left-handed pitcher did deal with injuries and an unfortunate finish to his season.

Cade Povich, a 26-year-old southpaw who has given the Orioles a solid number of starts over the past three seasons, is silently an important piece of Baltimore’s pitching equation heading into the 2027 season. 

Ever since he made his big league debut in 2024, Povich has given the team a handful of starts each season, but has yet to get over the hump of some struggles. In his rookie year in 2024, Povich compiled a 5.20 ERA in 16 starts. The following season he did not get much better, as he recorded a 5.21 ERA in a career high 112 ⅓ innings of work across 22 appearances, 20 of which were starts. 

Povich did see some slight improvement in 2026, though injuries began to factor into his presence on the mound. In early May, the Orioles placed him on the injured list with left elbow inflammation, which held him out for almost two months. 

When Povich returned to the Orioles after the injury, his performance was not as sharp as it was earlier in the season. After the season concluded, Povich underwent a minor arthroscopic procedure in mid-October to remove loose bodies in his left arm, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Since it is a minor procedure, Povich is more than likely to be ready to go when Spring Training comes around. 

While the left-hander has yet to stand out at the major league level in resounding fashion, he still is an integral piece of the Orioles’ pitching staff for a variety of reasons. In fact, a new season could even bring more opportunities for Povich. 

Currently, it is unclear if the Orioles will bring back Trevor Rogers in free agency, who was the team’s best starter in 2026 down the stretch. Should they not bring him back, Povich suddenly slides into either the fourth or fifth spot in the Orioles’ rotation, in a position to make an impact and potentially break out. 

Even if Rogers were to return, Povich will remain in the mix for a chunk of innings in 2027. After the surgery, he may be poised for a strong year if he were to make consistent starts.