It’s the final stretch of the season, and the Baltimore Orioles are in a dog fight with the rival New York Yankees for the AL East title.
At 79-59, the Orioles are in good shape to make the postseason. They are currently a half game back of the Yankees for first place and lead the AL Wild Card standings by four games.
The Birds have struggled since the All-Star break, going a combined 32-34 (.485 winning percentage) with an offense that has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster ride.
Barring a historic collapse, the O’s are set to play baseball in October in back-to-back seasons, with hopes on a successful one at that.
“Everybody wants to win their division, and it’s fun, and that’s the goal. But you want to win the World Series. You want to be the winner at the very end. And I think that’s what’s on everybody’s minds right now.”
– Grayson Rodriguez on the Orioles’ goal of winning the World Series this season
So what must the Birds do in the final stretch to put themselves in a strong position for a postseason berth and run? Let’s jump on in and find out.
1. Get Healthy
The Orioles have had a season decimated by injuries that have challenged their depth and also forced other players to avoid time off.
As of now, the Orioles have 12 players on the IL, with five of them lost for the season. Players who could return and be beneficial down the stretch are as follows:
- INF Jordan Westburg
- INF Ramón Urías
- 1B Ryan Mountcastle
- RHP Jacob Webb
- LHP Danny Coulombe
- RHP Grayson Rodriguez
Each one of those players contributed significantly to the team and was a valuable part of the team during the first half.
Getting those players back during the stretch run will only bolster the O’s depth, give the bench more flexibility and provide veteran performances when called upon.
With Dean Kremer set to miss at least one start, the Orioles must look to other players to step up and hope the lucky seven return at just the right time.
2. Offensive Consistency
One of the things that has plagued the Orioles during the second half has been inconsistent play on the offensive side of the ball.
The starting pitchers are doing their part, but the Orioles have had too many games where the offense fails to capitalize and take advantage of opportunities.
The Birds hit 110 home runs and scored 339 runs through the first half of the season. Since June 19, they have hit 91 home runs and scored 318 runs.
The interesting aspect is that the Orioles aren’t winning games like they did in the first half of the season. The offense is either stagnant or explosive. If they put together a few consistent games of strong offense, they could easily catch fire at the right time for a postseason run.
The Orioles rank 17th in the league with a .253 average with runners in scoring position. As a team, they are slashing .253/.312/.439/.751.
In the postseason, every pitch, swing and hit matters even more. The pressure is escalated, and missed opportunities will spell doom for any team in the end.
3. Figure Out the Bullpen
A strong suit for the Orioles last season was how the bullpen came together and became a consistent go-to late in the game.
With a majority of the pen returning, the Orioles went out and signed future Hall of Famer Craig Kimbrel. In return, the Birds are converting only 68% of their save opportunities and have blown 19 save situations.
From the start, the bullpen lacked fluid movement to reach the back-end. Whether injuries, inconsistency or just pressure to perform, the pen has been a carousel of arms trying to find unity.
To make matters worse, stalwarts Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb have been out an extended amount of time, forcing middle relief arms into high-pressure situations.
As of now, Seranthony Domínguez has taken over closer duties, Kimbrel has been relegated to mainly low-pressure situations and the rotation appears to be changing every other day.
If the Orioles want to succeed in the postseason, the bullpen needs to come together and become a fluid unit defined by the ability to perform in any situation.
The return of Coulombe and Webb will bring a major boost, but for now, there are less than 25 games to get it figured out and give the Birds a chance at a deep run.
It’s September, and every game matters more than ever. Each win will be crucial, and each loss will be magnified.
The Orioles find themselves in a dogfight that is testing their moxy, their endurance, their discipline and their fortitude as a team.
Though they won’t win 100 games this season, the O’s are on pace for a 93-win season, which would be very strong considering the players lost. Much of the team is early in their career but are significant reasons for the recent success.
Will the Birds figure it out and fight for a World Series title, their first since 1983? If they can fix the three above areas, there’s a chance that they can make a loud postseason run.
What are your thoughts on all of this? 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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