The Orioles have covered up for lousy starts with an explosive offense and strong group of relievers. But when they do get solid performances from pitchers in the rotation, they need to take advantage.

The Orioles have thrived against lesser competition, but tougher games start today in Atlanta. We’ll learn a lot about the team — but even more about the overall plan, based on how Mike Elias responds to the outcome of these games.

The numbers suggest Henderson’s inability to get hits is probably the byproduct of a careful hitter working to adjust to more sophisticated pitchers.

Tides hitting coach Brink Ambler knows these prospects well, having worked with many of them for years. He explains what’s working — and what’s not — for the organizations next wave of talent.

You shouldn’t read too much into April — and the projections have not, as they still have the O’s missing the playoffs — but a 19-9 start built on homegrown talent is undeniably worth getting excited about.

Orioles fans were disappointed when Kyle Gibson turned out to be the team’s primary addition to the starting rotation during the offseason. So far, though, he’s pitched as well or better than the higher-priced options.

The Orioles have an aggressive approach to moving players up a level once they’ve mastered it, and those players generate hype. But don’t give up on those who take longer to adjust.

The 18-year-old, signed as an international free agent, has used mechanical changes to his swing and an improved approached to the mental side of the game to thrive in Delmarva with three home runs and a .948 OPS in 11 games.

The Orioles took decisive action by sending Cole Irvin down, and sent a message that the team would no longer abide mediocre appearances. The changes seem to have worked, but how sustainable is the current formula?

The Orioles are hoping Mateo won’t be out long, but would face a very difficult decision if he needed an extend recovery. Which is, of course, a testament to how well the rebuild has gone.

Entering Tuesday’s game in Fredericksburg, Holliday’s full-season debut has been exactly what he and the Orioles would hope.

He fought through injuries in the latter part of last season and knows that Double-A will continue to challenge him as a hitter. He’s responded by taking a more refined approach in BP.

The Orioles’ top prospect has made plenty of mistakes, and they’ve hurt him, but that's the point: Only major league hitters are good enough to consistently punish him, so Rodriguez needs to stay up and make adjustments.

Ramsey has worked his way through the Orioles' system, preaching a unified approach to pitching as he mentors top prospects.

Kyle Stowers has proven all he needs to prove in Triple-A, yet the Orioles could only get him four at-bats and opted to send him down. With so many prospects already in Norfolk, how are the Orioles going to ensure they all continue to develop — and stay happy?

Irvin tied a career high with four walks in a laborious outing where he struggled to stay in the strike zone. The Orioles traded for him hoping he would get through five or six innings and take stress off the bullpen, but he's been unable to deliver so far.

There’s been so much focus on the Orioles’ young core and yet-to-arrive prospects. But a group of veteran infielders already in place has helped carry the team so far.

Even if the method they used to get here led to those miserable lean rebuild seasons, and the relative inactivity of this winter had the power to push attention elsewhere, all anyone has really wanted was a good team on the field that made showing up or tuning in every night worth it.

There’s a wide range of possibilities for how this year will go for both established players and prospects. These are the benchmarks to look for as the season unfurls and you attempt to evaluate the progress of the rebuild that is trying to prove it is no longer a rebuild.

Dylan Beavers, the Orioles’ No. 11 prospect according to Baseball America, came to the Orioles knowing that a rather unorthodox swing had taken him far but that adjustments would be required to reach the majors.