The Orioles have a couple options to choose from while the rotation is injured

The Baltimore Orioles have gotten off to a rocky start this season.

The offense has been all or nothing, averaging over eight runs per game in their wins and less than two runs per game in their losses.

The pitching was always the biggest question mark entering the season and that ride just got a lot bumpier.

Following the loss of Grayson Rodriguez in spring training, Zach Eflin became the unquestioned ace of the franchise.

Eflin responded by posting three straight quality outings in his first three starts of the season.

Unfortunately, Eflin will now be joining Rodriguez on the IL and leaving the Orioles’ rotation in shambles.

Will the Birds call up one of their young prospects?

Maybe make a trade for a starter?

When will Kyle Gibson be ready to pitch? There are several options the Orioles must choose from to figure out the best way to get through these injuries.

How will the Orioles handle their rotation after Zach Eflin’s injury?

A trade for a front end starter is unlikely this early in the season. Chayce McDermott and Trevor Rogers would be the likeliest call up candidates but they’re both injured.

Albert Suarez is also on the IL so he can’t step in like he did so successfully last season. If they choose to call up someone the best option is Brandon Young.

Young has had a fantastic start to the season and is expected to make the jump to the majors at some point this year.

He is scheduled to pitch this Friday, which would be the Tomoyuki Sugano’s turn in the rotation.

Letting Young make his MLB debut on Saturday and pushing Cade Povich to Sunday with the rotation picking up from there would be the simplest course of action.

There’s another option where the O’s would not have to decide on the fifth for about three weeks, but that requires a lot more moving parts.

Dean Kremer will pitch the series finale against Arizona later today. After an off day Thursday, Sugano, Povich and Charlie Morton could complete the rotation as normal.

Another off day on April 14 would allow that rotation to repeat on regular rest without a fifth starter.

The O’s wouldn’t need a fifth starter until April 19, when Cody Poteet could make a spot start or they could do a bullpen game.

The four man rotation would complete a third time through over the next five days when a fifth starter would be needed on April 25 against Detroit.

That same day would be the third scheduled start for Kyle Gibson, assuming he pitches every fifth day after his season debut in Norfolk on 4/10.

If the Orioles can bridge the gap to get to Gibson it would allow them to leave the rotation basically unchanged.

I would argue Sugano becomes the team’s ace while Morton, Kremer, Povich and Gibson battle to see who stays on the roster when other starters return to health.

Eflin, Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish will all be back this season and only Sugano should feel safe based on the early performances.

Because Eflin recently pitched, the Orioles have the benefit of not having to make any decision until Eflin’s next turn on April 13.

Colin Selby has been called up as an extra bullpen arm to fill the roster spot vacated when Eflin was put on the IL.

Brandon Hyde usually keeps even the Orioles insiders guessing what will happen until the last moment. Only time will tell how the Orioles choose to jump this hurdle.