2014 Opening Day

(Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

After missing the postseason with an 85-77 record in 2013, the Baltimore Orioles begin their 2014 season with a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

Opening Day.

It’s a special day for fans of any baseball team. It’s the beginning of a long 162-game marathon that is the Major League Baseball season.

Each and every one of the 30 teams in MLB begin the new season with a sense of optimism, a clean slate at 0-0.

This season, the Baltimore Orioles begin with a couple of fresh faces and a rejuvenated lineup.

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Finalized Opening Day roster

The Orioles finished 19-9 this spring, second in the Grapefruit league and third best overall. (Photo courtesy of James Gordon/Baltimore Sun)

The Orioles finished 19-9 this spring, second in the Grapefruit league and third best overall. (Photo courtesy of James Gordon/Baltimore Sun)

With Spring Training coming to a close and the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros playing baseball that actually matters last night at Minute Maid Park, the MLB regular season has officially begun.

The Baltimore Orioles are in Tampa Bay, Fla. and are preparing to open the 2013 season against the hometown Tampa Bay Rays.

Below is the Orioles’ finalized 25-man roster by manager Buck Showalter:

Starting Pitchers

  1. Jason Hammel
  2. Wei-Yin Chen
  3. Miguel Gonzalez
  4. Jake Arrieta
  5. Chris Tillman

Bullpen

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Early this spring The Birdhouse speculated about the Orioles pitching rotation. It’s a bit of a surprise to see Matusz tabbed as a starter once again after he dominated out of the pen last season.

The Birdhouse posted on March 26 about Pearce and the possibility of him cracking the roster after Wilson Betemit left a Spring Training game against Boston with a knee injury. Pearce did indeed beat out Conor Jackson for that bench spot.

The Orioles and Rays kick off the season tomorrow with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Tropicana Field. Hammel gets the Opening Day start for the O’s and he will match up against David Price.

Meeting the birds: The 2013 Orioles starting rotation preview

Feb. 11 is just five days away. The first notable date for baseball fans and players alike, the day pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.

Manager Buck Showalter will have plenty of choices when it comes time to create a starting rotation for the Baltimore Orioles. Aside from possibly Jair Jurrjens, the O’s starting staff will be full of familiar faces from last season.

The 2013 starting rotation for the O's hope to stay healthy as opposed to the 2012 rotation. (Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)

The 2013 starting rotation for the O’s hope to stay healthy as opposed to the 2012 rotation. (Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron)

In 2012, the Orioles had eight different pitchers start more than 10 games. Showalter would probably prefer a healthier 2013 season for his rotation.

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