With all five teams playing better than .500 baseball, it’s safe to say the American League East is the most talented division in baseball.
This is also the exact reason many people were reluctant to buy stock in the Orioles, given their track record with their divisional rivals the last half decade. However, 2023 has been a totally different story for this Orioles team, who holds a 24-14 record in their divisional matchups.
As a team, the Orioles are slashing .252/.320/.420, good for a .740 OPS, while pitching to a 4.11 ERA and 1.286 WHIP. Their main source of success has been closer Félix Bautista, who has a 0.87 ERA, 1.020 WHIP, and 10 saves in 20.2 innings pitched against the AL East this year. They’ve thrived in close games, and their All-Star closer is a big reason why.
It’s been a relatively small sample size, but the Red Sox have given the O’s the most trouble so far. In six games, Baltimore is 3-3 against Boston. With seven games to go, the Birds are going to need more out of their pitching, which owns a 6.49 ERA against Boston up to this point. They will look to rally around their star catcher Adley Rutschman in their quest for the season series, who owns a .308/.367/.423 slashline against the Sox this season.
The Yankees and Orioles have already wrapped their season series up, and for the first time since 2016, the Orioles had a winning record against the Evil Empire, going 7-6. Aaron Judge continued his dominance that Orioles fans have grown used to, but a 4-3 record in the Bronx, led by Gunnar Henderson, who owns a .882 OPS against the Yankees in his young career should have O’s fans excited about the future of this rivalry.
Maybe the most impressive feat of the Orioles’ season so far, in nine games against the Tampa Bay Rays, they have played some of their best baseball and sit at 6-3, one win away from a crucial season series win. The Trop has been a nightmare place to play for the Orioles (and most teams for that matter), but in a huge four-game series down in St. Pete, the Orioles made a statement to the rest of the league, winning three of four.
Perhaps the best for last, the Toronto Blue Jays. Last year, the Orioles 9-10 record against Toronto was a big reason why they came up just short on a ticket to postseason baseball. But in 2023, they have made sure that won’t happen again. The Birds are 8-2 against Toronto this season and 6-1 on the road, thanks to a sweep earlier in the season and taking three of four in this most recent series.
If you’ve been on social media at all the last 48 hours, I’m sure you know why soon-to-be prime minister of Canada, Ryan Mountcastle, loves playing the Blue Jays. He was 11-for-13 in their most recent series, good for a .846 batting average and on the season against Toronto is slashing .480/.531/.760, good for a ridiculous 1.291 OPS.
The once thought to be reason the Orioles would be held back happens to be exactly what’s propelling Baltimore forward so far. They have taken care of business so far in the AL East and have a great chance to end the season with a winning record against the four teams they used to always struggle to beat.
Is this a sign Baltimore has finally escaped the basement, or has luck just been on their side this season? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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