Shane

Baz

The 26-year-old right-hander also issued three walks on the night while racking up six strikeouts. He served up a two-run homer to Jose Ramirez in the first inning, then the Guardians scratched out single runs against him in the fifth and sixth innings to pile on. Baz got nine swings and misses on 99 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 26 percent. Now 0-2 on the season, he’ll tote a 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 19/8 K/BB ratio (22 innings) into Tuesday’s matchup against the Royals in Kansas City.

Baz got off to a strong start on Friday, allowing just two baserunners through 2.2 innings. He would allow his first run of the game with two outs in the third when Willy Adames blasted a 421-foot solo homer to right center. Baz would allow two more baserunners in the inning before getting Rafael Devers to ground out to end the inning. Things didn’t get any better for Baz in the fourth inning, who allowed four more base runners to get on and two more to score, with Adames again getting the best of him on an RBI double to drive in the Giants’ third run of the game. Baz would pitch a scoreless fifth inning before being pulled, and has yet to pitch more than 5 2/3 innings in any game this season. He can be left on waivers for Wednesday’s start against the Diamondbacks.

Baz stranded two baserunners in the first inning by striking out the final two batters. After a pair of clean innings, the leadoff man would reach on an error in the fourth and later score an unearned run on a sacrifice fly. Baz worked around a pair of walks in the fifth and gave up a double with two outs in the sixth before exiting at 98 pitches -- 63 for strikes. The 26-year-old right-hander will look to follow the strong outing in a start against the Giants in Baltimore on Friday.

Baz punched out four opposing hitters on the afternoon and did not allow a base on balls. All of the damage done against him came during a four-run uprising in the second inning that included a bases-clearing three-run double from Tristan Gray. Baz generated 12 swings and misses on 78 pitches on the day, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll try once again to earn his first victory in an Orioles’ uniform when he takes on the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

The new deal, worth a reported $68 million, takes effect immediately and supersedes the one-year, $3.5 million deal he agreed to in January. So, the O’s are paying $64.5 million for his final two seasons of arbitration and his first two years of free agency. That’s great if he stays healthy and turns into an above average starter these next two years, and there’s good reason to think that at least the latter will happen. It’s probably a little riskier than most of these kinds of extensions, though, and it doesn’t come with the bonus of getting any option years tacked on. Baz is now due to become a free agent at age 31 after the 2030 season.

It was always the contention of their trade with the Rays that Baltimore was buying in on their ability to make Baz’s pitches play up. Now they’re paying up for the opportunity to keep him in their rotation for the next several years after apparently liking what they saw in Spring Training. Baz was set to be arbitration eligible for the second time next offseason, so the Orioles have bought out two years of free agency in this deal. It’s a reasonable price considering Baz’s talent.

Baz struck out five and walked none while facing Nationals regulars, which is kind of like taking on an average Triple-A lineup. He ends the spring with a 2.61 ERA and a 14/4 K/BB ratio in 10 1/3 innings over his three outings. Baz will open up as the Orioles’ No. 3 starter, making him a solid play with the Twins and Pirates first up on the schedule.

Rogers had already been announced as the Opening Day starter. Bradish will pitch on Saturday against the Twins with Shane Baz working the finale of that opening series. Chris Bassitt and Zach Eflin will then work the first two games against the Rangers.

Unfortunately, one of the Astros he struck out reached as it was on a wild pitch that scored two of the three runs against him. Baz threw seven sliders -- his first time using the pitch since June 4, 2025 -- and only allowed three hard-hit balls. If he can work the slider into his arsenal, he’ll have an interesting ceiling case this year on what should be an improved Orioles team.

Baz walked two, but he has to be happy about his 39-pitch spring debut. Although he has a worse track record than the Orioles’ other five starters, there seems to be little doubt about Baz’s rotation status after Baltimore gave up four prospects and a draft pick to acquire him from the Rays. He has a chance to offer some mixed-league value.