LAKELAND, Fla. — Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez is getting multiple opinions on soreness in the back of his right elbow and reliever Andrew Kittredge is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, manager Brandon Hyde announced Friday. Both pitchers will begin the 2025 season on the injured list.

“It’s not a ligament issue, so we’re not concerned about that,” Hyde said of Rodriguez. “But it’s going to result in some missed time.”

While there’s no immediate timeline for Rodriguez’s return, Kittredge is expected to miss a few months.

The Orioles are hopeful that Rodriguez, 25, can ascend to a front-of-the-rotation role this season after ace Corbin Burnes signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency. Rodriguez posted a 3.86 ERA with 130 strikeouts over 20 starts in 2024 but dealt with shoulder inflammation in the first half and finished the year on the injured list with a lat/teres strain — the second time in three seasons that Rodriguez has missed multiple months with the injury.

The former top prospect modified his delivery this spring to put less stress on his lat muscle and purposely dialed back his velocity in his first Grapefruit League start to build up his arm more gradually. In his second start Wednesday, however, Rodriguez averaged an alarming 93.2 mph on his four-seamer and bottomed out at 89.5 against the Minnesota Twins.

After downplaying the readings by saying he felt “sluggish” and “everything felt kind of flat,” Hyde said Thursday that Rodriguez was dealing with triceps soreness and undergoing testing to determine the severity of the injury.

“We’re getting the results, we’re talking to multiple people about what the treatment, etc., is right as of right now,” Hyde said. “And so the timeline is — we’re not sure of it.

“He had some soreness [where] the elbow and the tricep connect at that point, and so that’s where he’s having the discussion.”

With Rodriguez now sidelined, the Orioles have an open spot in their rotation that Hyde said will “realistically” be filled by either right-hander Albert Suárez or left-hander Cade Povich. Suárez, 35, appeared to be ticketed for a bullpen role with the rotation filled out at the start of camp but performed well in a swingman role last season, recording a 3.70 ERA in 32 appearances (24 starts). Povich, 24, put up a 5.20 ERA in 16 starts as a rookie, though he finished the year strong with a 2.60 ERA over five September outings.

“Povich is throwing really good right now, really well,” Hyde said. “I love the way he ended the season and he’s pitching with a lot of confidence right now. He threw a four-inning backfield yesterday and looked really good.”

Kittredge, 34, joined the Orioles this offseason on a one-year, $10 million deal with a $9 million team option for 2026. He was among the premier setup men in baseball last year, posting a 2.80 ERA in 74 games for the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-hander felt some discomfort in his knee while warming up in the bullpen during Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He didn’t make his scheduled appearance and reported inflammation before undergoing tests.

His absence will also create an opening in the Orioles’ bullpen, which is looking to bounce back this season with closer Félix Bautista returning from Tommy John elbow surgery. Bautista isn’t expected to pitch on back-to-back days or pitch more than an inning at a time in the first half, and Kittredge was among the players Hyde planned to use in the ninth-inning when Bautista was unavailable. Now, fellow setup men Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Yennier Cano will be the top candidates to handle those situations.

Around the horn

The Orioles plan to give Jackson Holliday some starts at shortstop this spring as a contingency option should Gunnar Henderson (intercostal strain) not be ready for opening day with Jordan Westburg “possible” as well, Hyde said. Henderson is still receiving treatment for the injury he suffered Feb. 27 and has not resumed baseball activities.

Infielder Jorge Mateo (elbow) began hitting in the batting cages, clearing another step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery he underwent in August. The utility man is still a longshot for opening day, but Hyde was hopeful that Mateo will suit up for a couple Grapefruit League games before the end of camp.

After being a late scratch from the Orioles’ lineup against the Pirates on Thursday, Tyler O’Neill (rib cage soreness) was “feeling better today,” Hyde said. Baltimore plans to give the veteran outfielder a few days to rest before returning to game action.

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