TAMPA, Fla. — Every five days over the past few weeks, Tony Mansolino has asked his pitching coaches the same question:

“How’d Trev look?”

Mansolino, the Orioles’ interim manager, won’t have to ask that question Wednesday.

Trevor Rogers, the much-maligned left-hander, joined Baltimore’s taxi squad Tuesday in Tampa and will start for the Orioles on Wednesday against the Rays. Rogers is replacing left-hander Cade Povich, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday, in the rotation.

Mansolino said the Orioles’ pitching department is “bullish” about the way Rogers has looked over the past few weeks in Triple-A Norfolk, especially the added velocity on his fastball.

“He kind of looks like himself,” Mansolino said. “I think he looks more like the pitcher that they probably traded for when they went to go get him, so we’re just really excited to see him tomorrow.”

The Orioles acquired Rogers from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline last season. The deal immediately soured when the left-hander posted a 7.11 ERA in four starts for the Orioles to earn a demotion to Triple-A. Rogers then suffered a partially dislocated kneecap during the offseason, missed spring training and struggled during his minor league rehabilitation assignment. To add insult to injury, Kyle Stowers, whom the Orioles traded to Miami alongside prospect Connor Norby, was one of baseball’s best hitters through mid-May.

But Rogers joined the Orioles for one day in late May to start the second game of a doubleheader in Boston. Baltimore lost the first game on a walk-off to fall to a season-worst 18 games below .500, and the season appeared to be circling the drain.

Rogers then delivered the best start by an Oriole this season, twirling 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and striking out five. He was returned to Triple-A after that outing, but the 27-year-old said that start was a reminder of the type of pitcher he used to be when he was an All-Star in 2021.

“I think everyone knows the struggles I’ve had the past couple years,” Rogers said Tuesday. “You play this game every day, the self-doubt really creeps in pretty quick. Had a lot of self-talks with myself. I had to get better in certain areas, and I did. That start was a big step forward for me.”

Last year, Rogers’ fastball was 88-91 mph — a result of years of injuries after he was throwing mid-90s in 2021. After an offseason focused on improving his velocity, Rogers was throwing 92-95 mph in Boston and mostly maintained that velocity back in Triple-A. Including that start in Boston and his past three in Triple-A, Rogers has a 2.38 ERA and has walked only two batters in 22 2/3 innings.

“I saw him in ‘21 in Miami, and it was electric,” Mansolino said. “There’s reasons why things happen and why they go the way they are. But what’s more important for Trev is just moving forward. I think if he continues to progress and move forward based off that last start, he’s going to be in a great spot. We’re really happy with where he’s at.”

The Orioles will have to make a roster move Wednesday to add Rogers to the 26-man roster. Grant Wolfram was recalled Tuesday for bullpen depth, replacing Colin Selby, who pitched two scoreless innings in Monday’s 7-1 loss.

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