The Baltimore Orioles have announced the reinstatement of Grayson Rodriguez from the 15-day injured list, and the promising pitcher is set to make his return to the mound today in a highly anticipated start against the Seattle Mariners. Rodriguez's shoulder inflammation, which resulted in his retroactive placement on the IL on April 30, turned out to be a minor issue, allowing him to return to action in less than three weeks.

Rodriguez, a star pitching prospect for the Orioles, has been impressive in his first two MLB seasons, boasting a solid 3.71 ERA in 34 innings and six starts thus far in 2024. His return further strengthens an already formidable pitching staff for Baltimore.

In a testament to the team's depth, the Orioles have been able to navigate the IL stints of Rodriguez, John Means, and Tyler Wells due to the strong performance of their other starters. This surplus of quality pitchers is certainly a good problem to have, especially as the team enters a busy stretch of their schedule.

The Orioles are about to embark on a grueling stretch of 42 games in 44 days, and to keep everyone fresh, the team has decided to shift to a six-man rotation. This strategic move allows the team to space out the workload among their pitchers, ensuring they are able to perform at their best throughout this demanding period.

Unfortunately, this pitching logjam has resulted in right-hander Mike Baumann being designated for assignment. Baumann, who has been with the Orioles since being selected as a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, started four of his 13 appearances in 2022 but has primarily worked out of the bullpen since then.

While Baumann's advanced metrics may not be outstanding, his expected statistics have shown improvement this season, and he has been more effective at limiting barrels. In addition, his ability to work beyond one inning out of the bullpen makes him an attractive option for teams in need of bullpen depth.

The Orioles will now explore the possibility of trading Baumann or attempting to move him to Triple-A as they seek to maximize his value. With his experience and versatility, it is possible that another team may claim him off waivers.

As the Orioles prepare to face the Mariners in Rodriguez's return to action, the team remains confident in the depth and talent of their pitching staff. The reassurance of having Rodriguez back on the mound, along with the strategic shift to a six-man rotation, sets the stage for an exciting and competitive stretch of games for the Orioles.