The second half of the 2024 MLB season is just a day away, and the Baltimore Orioles are in a prime position in the American League East.
That position is first place in the toughest division in baseball, as the Birds put together a 58-38 record prior to the All-Star break.
There have been numerous factors to the success of the team this season, regardless of key injuries plaguing the starting rotation.
The Baltimore Battery staff watched closely during the first months of the season, so we now present to you our grades for the Orioles’ first half, along with our most valuable position player and pitcher thus far.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
ORIOLES’ FIRST HALF GRADES
Stephen Heckman: C+
It’s a little odd to see a first place team on pace for 98 wins receive a C+ grading, but let’s take a look as to what makes this grade what it is. The positives are that the Orioles are tops in the league in home runs, slugging and runs scored, while near the top in RBIs. On the flip side, the O’s are slashing .249/.307/.445/.752 with RISP, putting them at 19th in the league. Another positive is that the pitching staff has the sixth best ERA, even though Tyler Wells, John Means and Kyle Bradish are out for the year and Danny Coulombe until September. It’s the midway point, so the season is still unwinding, as players will be brought up and new players signed or traded for. In the end, the Birds are still not playing to their full potential and only aim to get better in the second half.
Justin Sutphin: A-
For a team with the amount of injuries the Orioles have, a fall-off compared to last year should be expected. However, that hasn’t happened to this point. The O’s are on pace to win 98 games and entered the break alone atop the AL East. The minus comes from the couple of series that the O’s simply just fell apart, when all should have been series wins (Cubs, Astros, Cardinals).
Zack Bucklew: B+
While the Orioles are the top team in the AL East, they did not have a a top tier first half. Avoidable loses and inconsistent, bad offensive performances are not something that is needed if you want to win the division. Also, throwing in bad losses to bad teams and blowing games late have hurt this team.
RJ Diliberto: A-
A few rough stretches are the only reason this isn’t an A+. When your team has an MVP candidate, a Cy Young candidate, five All-Stars and sits in first place in its division, it’s hard to be too upset.
Nick Forbush: A-
Although the end of the first half saw the Orioles go three for their last 10 and trot out a sluggish offense before the All-Star break, this young team has been dominant. At the plate, the Orioles lead MLB in home runs (149) and slugging (.452%). On the bump, the O’s are sixth in MLB in ERA (3.71) and fifth in the league in opponent average (.230). The Birds are one or two pitching acquisitions away from a potential deep playoff run.
Casey Fitch: B+
The Orioles have stunned with a 58-38 record, coming out on top of the AL East, despite their offensive woes in the final stretch. An injury plague, an exhausting June gauntlet and some questionable holes to fix leads me to this grade. As much as I commend the O’s for fighting through each and every obstacle thus far, the final week proved that they are their own biggest enemy. Relying on the long ball and being unable to capitalize with RISP will cost them, just as much as the pitching situation. I believe the O’s have the talent to go all the way, but moves need to be made for pitching to complete the full picture, as well as giving some prospects a chance on the active roster to re-spark this offense.
MOST VALUABLE POSITION PLAYER
Stephen Heckman: Jordan Westburg
My MVO is Jordan Westburg. I know Gunnar Henderson is leading the team in most offensive categories, but Westburg is in the top four of most categories, one of three full-time players who has an OPS over .800 and has come up big in quite a few moments this year, including two walk-off victories, which is actually more than Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and Ryan Mountcastle combined. On top of that, he has committed only two errors between playing second and third base.
Justin Sutphin: Gunnar Henderson
It’s Gunnar Henderson. You can’t argue against a .286 average, 957 OPS and a 173 OPS+ from a guy who has been 23 years old for less than a month. Henderson has had a full season worth of home runs for a shortstop in just half a season at 28, while eight have been lead-off shots. That puts him tied for second all time for the Orioles in a single season, and again, it’s only been half the year. The future AL MVP also logged a 36-game on-base streak that lasted from May 22 through June 29.
Zack Bucklew: Jordan Westburg
While everyone will say Gunnar or Adley, I’m saying Jordan Westburg. He’s been the most consistent hitter in the O’s lineup, especially at home, and has the second highest OPS of the qualifying hitters on the team. While he has gone cold in July, Westy has been the hitter you want up to bat in key situations.
RJ Diliberto: Gunnar Henderson
When you lead the team in home runs, batting average, OPS, RBIs and OBP, you are more than likely the team’s most valuable position player. It’s just as simple as that.
Nick Forbush: Gunnar Henderson
This is no question. Henderson leads the team in multiple hitting categories, including average (.286), OPS (.957), home runs (28), RBIs (63) and runs (78). The stats don’t lie, but after a sluggish end to the first half, I’m looking for Henderson to return to his dominance in the second half.
Casey Fitch: Gunnar Henderson
Gunnar is an easy choice. He has 28 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .956 OPS. He’s our cowboy for a reason, and he’s clearly been the best position player for the Birds so far this season.
MOST VALUABLE PITCHER
Stephen Heckman: Corbin Burnes
How do you go wrong with a pitcher who in 19 games has 15 quality starts? That puts your team in position to win while resting your bullpen as well. Burnes leads the pitching staff in most categories while also being an anchor for the team. A true front-line starter, his game has elevated that of Grayson Rodriguez’s as well. Burnes is definitely in the talk for being an AL Cy Young finalist and is performing like the ace we all knew he was.
Justin Sutphin: Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes is the Orioles’ ace. That is a fact. However, that alone doesn’t earn him the honor of Most Valuable Pitcher. The way Burnes has been an ace and leader in every way is what earns him this. Burnes holds the league’s fourth best ERA at 2.43, but it’s the way he has become the anchor for an injury-plagued staff that sticks out. Of his 19 starts, nine have come following a loss. Out of those nine-loss-following starts, Burnes recorded either a win or a quality start that led to a team win in six of them. When you talk about a table-setter and top of the rotation reset, that is exactly what he’s been.
Zack Bucklew: Jacob Webb
The obvious answers are Burnes, Kimbrel or Rodriguez. But I’m going with Jacob Webb. Despite a bad June, Webb has been the reliever that everyone wants in the game when it’s close. He has been the most reliable reliever, and I would honestly take a reliable reliever as a player more valuable than a starter who plays every five games, especially when that reliever has played in almost 50% of the team’s games.
RJ Diliberto: Corbin Burnes
Amidst all the pitching injuries, Burnes has provided manager Brandon Hyde some much-needed stability, pitching to a 2.43 ERA with a WHIP at 1.04. Burnes is very much in contention for his second Cy Young Award, which would be his first in the American League.
Nick Forbush: Corbin Burnes
Although I want to go off the obvious, this choice is hard to argue. For the first half of the season, Corbin Burnes has posted a 9-4 record, which is a few Orioles at-bats away from knocking a few loses in the other direction. His 2.43 ERA ranks him third in MLB. Adding to this impressive stat line is a 1.04 WHIP, which slots him at 14th best in MLB, and 110 strikeouts in his 19 starts. Burnes was selected to start for the AL in the All-Star game for a reason; he is one of the best starting pitchers in the sport and is a strong second half away from another potential CY Young Award on his shelf.
Casey Fitch: Corbin Burnes
I so very much want to commend Grayson Rodriguez for bouncing back after a rough stretch, but we have to give Corbin Burnes the respect he deserves. The All-Star Game starter: I mean, what more could we dream of? A 9-4 record, a 2.43 ERA with 110 strikeouts sounds pretty damn good, too. He is simply that guy, and if you’re reading this Corbin, please stay in Baltimore!
What grade would you give the first half of the Orioles’ 2024 season, and who are your MVO’s thus far? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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