The Baltimore Orioles starts the season off against the new look Tampa Bay Rays

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The Baltimore Orioles starts the season off against the new look Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays sold all their key parts in the offseason and are not expected to compete this year. The Baltimore Orioles are picked by a few experts to be a dark horse in the crowded AL East.

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The Orioles entered spring training with an abundance of optimism. New cleanup hitter. New bullpen. Three new infielders. New outlook and lease on life with Buck Showalter, who took over as manager late last season. But spring training showed that they have the same old injury concerns.

Brian Roberts continues to battle back trouble, and newly acquired first baseman Derrek Lee has been hampered by the aftereffects of offseason wrist surgery.The optimism around the club has been dampened somewhat, but most analysts believe the team will approach -- if not surpass -- the .500 mark for the first time in 13 seasons. Aside from health, the Orioles' success rests on the arms of its young rotation. The progress of left-hander Brian Matusz and right-handers Jake Arrieta and Brad Bergesen was a welcome sight in late 2010.

If that trio can continue to grow under Showalter and new pitching coach Mark Connor, the club will assuredly improve.But if the club is to make a giant leap in the standings, the offense will have to grow with the likes of three home-grown bats: Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters.

Wieters, the can't-miss prospect of two seasons ago, is penciled into the No. 8 spot in the order. If he reaches his offensive potential, the lineup could be devastating.The bullpen seems improved, as well, with the additions of closer candidate Kevin Gregg and one-time closer Jeremy Accardo to a solid crop of late game arms.

The Rays are 2-6 in their last eight games as a favorite and the Orioles get a win on opening day.

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