The MLB Trade Deadline is quickly approaching, and the Baltimore Orioles wrapped up another 3-3 week as July comes to an end.
After taking one of the National League’s best teams, the Atlanta Braves, to extra innings in two of three games (both losses), the Birds headed to Detroit and took two of three from the Tigers. They capped the week with a thrilling 12-inning comeback victory to finish .500 once again.
Before the Birds’ series against the Philadelphia Phillies and the deadline arrives, let’s take a look at this week’s edition of The Great, The Good & The Ugly.
THE GREAT: JACKSON HOLLIDAY
Amid the growing chatter from some in Birdland labeling Jackson Holliday a bust, it is easy to overlook just how much progress he has made.
After missing spring training and the first two months of the season with a broken hamate bone, Holliday finally looks healthy and is beginning to resemble the player the Orioles expected.
Over the past two series, Holliday went 11-for-20 (.550) with two doubles, six RBIs, five runs scored, two stolen bases and three walks against three strikeouts.
For the month of July, Holliday is slashing .370/.500/.426 with 20 hits in 22 games. He has reached base in 19 of those contests and recorded multiple times on base in 12 games. He has added three doubles, six RBIs, eight runs scored, two stolen bases and 15 walks compared to just 11 strikeouts.
THE GOOD: THE AL WILD CARD RACE
The Orioles enter the weekend at 53-56, sitting fourth in the American League East and 11.5 games behind first place.
Despite the inconsistent season, the Birds are still very much alive in the AL Wild Card race, sitting just 2.5 games behind the final postseason spot.
The American League has remained wide open. While five teams would stand between Baltimore and a playoff spot in the National League, only three teams are ahead of them in the AL.
Because of that, Baltimore still appears positioned to buy at the deadline in hopes of strengthening the roster for one final push toward October.
THE BAD: DEAN KREMER & THE DEFENSE
Where do you even begin? Both have been equally concerning.
Dean Kremer has become increasingly difficult to trust every fifth day. He enters August with a season ERA north of 6.50 and posted a 7.56 ERA during July, turning the back end of the rotation into a major question mark.
With trade rumors continuing to swirl around Kremer, his last outing may very well have been his final start in an Orioles uniform.
The defense has not done the pitching staff any favors either.
Baltimore committed seven errors in six games this past week, including several costly miscues that helped Atlanta win the series and allowed Detroit to hang around in games one and three.
The Orioles are averaging 0.65 errors per game, ranking 25th in Major League Baseball. They also rank 15th with a -6.9 defensive fWAR.
Whether it is Kremer’s struggles or the defensive lapses, both remain glaring issues for a team trying to climb into playoff position. With the deadline approaching, it will be interesting to see whether the front office addresses either weakness.
The Orioles return home this weekend for a six-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Angels.
The MLB Trade Deadline arrives on Monday, August 3, and Baltimore has already added catcher Jake Rogers from Detroit. Will more moves follow?
Can Jackson Holliday keep his breakout going? Can the Orioles continue gaining ground in the AL Wild Card race? And will the pitching and defense improve enough to keep postseason hopes alive in Charm City?
Tune in next week for another edition of The Great, The Good & The Ugly.
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