If the Orioles hope to compete in 2026, they’ll need a significant jump in production from their starting rotation.

At a minimum, Trevor Rogers looks like a dependable option to take the ball every fifth day. But right now, Rogers is more than a dependable starter. Rogers is inevitable.

The lefty gave the Orioles seven innings of one-run ball, Samuel Basallo hit his first major-league home run, and the Orioles beat the Giants 11-1.

Rogers very well could be the best starting pitcher in baseball right now, but he’s at least one infinity stone away from Thanos.

The former Marlin had been perfect in the first inning this season, but Rogers finally allowed a run in the first frame. Rogers retired Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers before Willy Adames took him deep for a solo home run. It turns out he’s human after all.

The blast provided San Francisco a one-run advantage, but Baltimore took control of the game in the third inning. Daniel Johnson worked a walk from the nine hole, and Jeremiah Jackson launched a two-run homer to secure the lead for Baltimore.

Gunnar Henderson followed with a base hit to left field, and Ryan Mountcastle smacked the second two-run homer of the inning for the O’s. Mountcastle’s missile traveled a projected 434 feet, and the Orioles jumped out to a 4-1 advantage.

Rogers struck out Devers and Adames to deliver the shutdown inning that everyone expected, and Baltimore came back for more in the fourth. Samuel Basallo took an opposite-field approach to a first pitch breaking ball and sent the ball just deep enough for his first career home run.

Ramos attempted to make a leaping catch at the wall, but the ball bounced off his glove and into the stands. Basallo nearly hit his first MLB homer two weeks ago against the Astros, but Houston outfielder Jesús Sánchez took the potential homer away.

Most talented rookies have gap-to-gap power with doubles that will eventually turn into home runs. Basallo appears to already have “robbable” home run power that will turn into “no doubt” territory as the 21-year-0ld develops.

Johnson followed with a sharp single to center, and Jackson Holliday smoked a ball off the brick wall in right field. The ball trickled all the way to center, and Johnson traveled home with ease. Holliday ended up at third with a triple, and he raced home on a sacrifice fly by Henderson. With their best pitcher on the mound, Baltimore led 7-1 after four.

Rogers held up his end of the bargain with scoreless fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. He ended the day with 7 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 5 K and 0 BB.

Corbin Burnes brought an elite level of pitching to Baltimore last season, but Rogers has taken things to another level. It’s a real shame that Baltimore played its way out of contention while Rogers worked his way back from a knee injury, because this will go down as one of the best stretches on the mound in Orioles history.

Leads are never safe with this depleted bullpen, so Baltimore’s offense provided plenty of insurance. Ryan Mountcastle roped a one-out double in the seventh, and Dylan Beavers drove him in with a single to left field. Beavers and Mountcastle both recorded multi-hit games.

Basallo kicked off the eighth with a walk, and Johnson piped a ground-rule double to right center. Johnson casually finished 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored for the Orioles.

Jackson plated Basallo and Johnson with a double to right field, advanced to third on a single by Henderson, and scored Baltimore’s 11th run on a wild pitch. Jackson finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBIs.

The Giants turned to a position player in the ninth, but Beavers, Coby Mayo, and Basallo failed to generate significant contact. Regardless, it’s always nice to see the other team being the one sending position players out to the mound.

The O’s gave relief pitcher Shawn Dubin a look with a double-digit lead. The Birds claimed the former Astros pitcher off waivers last week. Dubin danced around a one-0ut walk in the eighth and delivered a clean ninth in the win.

The Orioles moved to 61-75 with the win. They can take the series tomorrow with Tomoyuki Sugano squaring off against Justin Verlander.