The regular season is over, seeding has been set and a new season starts tomorrow as the march begins for the desired World Series crown.
The roller coaster that was navigated through the season has left the Baltimore Orioles as one of the final seven teams in the American League.
At one point, it seemed like a given that the Birds would be here. Then the injury bug came to visit, putting the team through an adversity it had to endure and grind through.
Losses of John Means, Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish put a strain on the rotation, that is until Albert Suárez came out of no where and provided the Orioles with veteran stability.
Due to Grayson Rodriguez being shut down in mid-August, Cade Povich emerged and pitched to a 2.60 ERA over the final month of the season.
Other injuries led the Orioles to find hidden gems like Emmanuel Rivera, Austin Slater, Colin Selby and Matt Bowman.
Even with injuries bringing adversity to the team, names like Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson kept providing unforgettable moments.
From electric plays to tape measure home runs, Santander (44 home runs) and Henderson (37 home runs) kept fans excited, as they helped to lead the team in most offensive categories.
Cedric Mullins has found his groove again, Ryan Mountcastle is mashing since his return and Jordan Westburg has gotten back to his steady smooth style of ball.
Heading into the postseason, the Orioles are at the most healthy they have been since early June.
Led by staff ace Corbin Burnes and team captain Adley Rutschman, the Orioles navigated a difficult second half to snag the top AL Wild Card spot and stay in contention for the AL East title until the final week of the season.
Through adversity, slumps and injuries, the Orioles found out just how good they can be and how hard a season can get. They pulled together when it mattered most and found a way to win when it mattered.
Now, the Birds will host the Kanas City Royals as their march through the postseason begins.
A team picked as the early season favorites is one of the most dangerous teams heading into October, winning three straight to end the season and five of their final six games, in which they scored five or more runs in each of those victories.
The Orioles have won 90+ games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1982-’83 seasons, the last time the Birds appeared in and won the franchises’ third World Series Championship.
This is a team chiseled, molded and determined. They are battle-tested, adversity survivors and more seasoned than they were entering last season’s playoffs.
It’s time to show baseball that this is Birdland. Be the noise.
It all starts Tuesday afternoon at 4:08 p.m. EST on ESPN.
How do you see this year’s postseason going? 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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