At this point, it’s getting more difficult to figure out what is wrong and/or what is going on with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles are starting to get some offense rolling, scoring three or more runs in four of their last six games.
Against the Los Angeles Angels, the Birds won the series, scoring four plus runs in their two victories. Against the Minnesota Twins, the O’s just couldn’t seize control, getting swept once again, dropping the season series with no wins and six losses.
The one area that continues to plague the Orioles is taking advantage of clutch opportunities. Over the last two series, the offense has gone a combined 8-for-42 (.190 avg) with runners in scoring position.
Between the struggles with RISP and against left-handed pitching, the Orioles 15-26 record is as justified as surprising. The easiest way to break it down is that the Birds are 4-21 when scoring three runs or less and are 13-4 when scoring more than three runs in a game.
So, while we ponder another losing record, let’s take a moment and see who made our Great, Good and Ugly list this week.
The Great: Gunnar Henderson
One of the bats that needed to get going was that of Gunnar Henderson, and it seems that is starting to happen.
Though he had his 19-game on-base streak end in the series finale against the Twins, Henderson’s offense has been picking up significantly.
After batting .228 through April, Henderson has turned on a switch and watched his average rise .040 points in May. For the month, he is slashing .340/.389/.600/.989 with three home runs and 17 RBIs.
Henderson’s defense has picked up as well, making some outstanding plays at short and forming a strong double play combo with Jackson Holliday.
Henderson’s bat picking up will be crucial to the Birds going forward if they intend to turn their season around. His leadership is something that is strongly needed, and his play will help dictate that of others around him.
The Good: Ryan Mountcastle
Another bat waking up is that of veteran first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. After slashing .182/.229/.299/.528 in April, Mounty has been on fire in May.
Mountcastle currently has a 10-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 12 of the 13 games he’s played this month. Sandwiched between Holliday and Henderson in the lineup as of late, Mounty is taking advantage of it, slashing .313/.333/.438/.771.
The power numbers are down, as only 12 of his 33 hits have gone for extra bases. However, Mounty’s bat is becoming a crucial part of the lineup, and his numbers are all up at least .020 points or more since May has arrived.
Mountcastle’s defense continues to shine with no errors in 298 total chances while contributing to 26 double plays and picking up 33 assists.
The Ugly: Adley Rutschman
We’re not exactly sure where to start with Adley Rutschman right now, except that he looks lost at the plate right. His average has steadily nose-dived each month and is progressively getting worse.
Rutschman hit .286 in March, .205 in April and is currently hitting .146 halfway through May. It’s actually making it difficult to continue trotting him out daily, but his defense and his knowledge and prep as a catcher make it hard to remove him from the lineup.
Rutschman is slashing .200/.300/.329/.629 on the season with only 11 RBIs and nine extra-base hits through 40 games.
It almost looks like it’s time for a reset, but with no viable full-time catcher options at this time, sending Rutschman to the minors to regroup is nearly out of the question. With Samuel Basallo getting healthy, Rutschman may find himself fighting off the youngster sooner rather than later.
As one of the undisputed leaders over the past three seasons, Rutschman’s struggles are reflective of the team’s performance at the dish.
The Orioles will remain home for a three-game series this weekend with the Washington Nationals as they continue a 16-game stretch before their next off day.
Can the Birds erase the struggles from the start of the season, or will they continue to fail to meet the expectations of the last two years? Will Henderson and Mountcastle stay hot? Will Rutschman continue to struggle?
Tune in next week for the next edition of The Great, The Good and The Ugly.
What are your thoughts on our selections this week? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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