NORTH PORT, Florida—The Orioles must have their roster set by Thursday at noon for their opener against the Blue Jays at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Much could happen between now and then. Let’s look at questions involving the Orioles’ roster.

Gunnar Henderson will start the season on the injured list, so who plays shortstop?

It probably will be Jackson Holliday, at least against right-handed pitchers. Henderson will be out for at least the Orioles’ first six games, four in Toronto and the first two games of their home opening series against Boston. Henderson, who has a right intercostal muscle strain, can return on April 3^rd.

How does Jorge Mateo factor in?

Mateo has played in five Grapefruit League games. He had Tommy John surgery last August, and the Orioles want to make sure he’ll be ready to start the season. He’ll remain in Florida for a few days to get some additional at-bats and the hope is he’s ready for Thursday’s Opening Day.

If Mateo starts the season on the injured list, who makes the team?

The Orioles are still carrying three extra infielders — Vimael Machin, Liván Soto and Luis Vázquez. All would need to be added to the 40-man roster. Soto would seem to have an edge. Machin has hit well in camp with a .400 average and 1.016 OPS but hasn’t played shortstop in Grapefruit League games.

What does the bullpen look like?

Félix Bautista returns as the Orioles’ closer. He’s joined by left-handers Keegan Akin, Cionel Pérez and Gregory Soto and right-handers Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez and Albert Suárez.

Suárez will be the long man, and there’s still an open spot, which could be Matt Bowman, who was added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster on Sunday

Bryan Baker and Roansy Contreras are currently on the 40-man roster but don’t have options remaining and would have to be designated for assignment and pass through waivers before they can be sent to Norfolk.

It’s likely that executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is considering trades or waiver claims for a bullpen spot.

Besides Henderson and possibly Mateo, who will start the season on the injured list?

Six pitchers — starters Kyle Bradish, Chayce McDermott, Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers and Tyler Wells, and reliever Andrew Kittredge.

Rodriguez, who has right elbow inflammation, will travel with the Orioles for now.

“He’s in a throwing buildup,” Elias said. “He’s starting from square zero with his throwing buildup, so he’s just playing catch. We’re gonna keep moving that out. I think next month would be the earliest he gets off the mound, so it’s going to be a while before there’s any type of exciting updates with Grayson just because we’re starting over with his throwing, but so far so good.”

McDermott, who has a strained right lat/teres, and Rogers, who has a dislocated left kneecap, are just beginning to throw bullpens sessions.

Bradish, who had Tommy John surgery last June, was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room for 37-year-old right-hander Kyle Gibson, who was signed on Friday.

Wells had season-ending elbow surgery last June and was moved to the 60-day injured list when the Orioles selected Bowman’s contract.
Kittredge had surgery to remove cartilage from his left knee.

Elias had little to add about the timelines for Bradish, Kittredge and Wells.

“I will say all three of them are doing extremely well,” Elias said. “So I think we would maybe have some optimism that they’re all on the front side of the windows, but it’s still too early to get more precise about when those guys are coming back. But definitely nothing has shifted later with those guys and their rehabs are flying along positively, knock on wood.”

What’s the order for the starting rotation?

We know that Zach Eflin will start the Thursday opener, and that 41-year-old Charlie Morton will start the second game against the Blue Jays on Friday. Elias said that left-hander Cade Povich will start the home opener on March 31^st.

Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano are the third and fourth starters, but Hyde said that he hasn’t made up his mind about which order they’ll start in.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected].