Good morning Birdland,
Beating divisional opponents is usually a good way to get yourself back into the playoff picture. Starting on May 25, the Orioles last eight games have been against AL East foes. They have gone 6-2 in those games. So it tracks that they have progressed from 12.5 games back of first place going into this stretch, and are now they are only 8.5 games back.
There are still five more games to go in this current AL East “gauntlet.” Two up in Fenway, and then a three-game stop in Toronto.
If the O’s stay hot, they could mess around and get their overall record to .500 or better. That would really be something!
Last night’s win was close to an ideal game from the Orioles perspective.
Shane Baz was, once again, quite good. He tossed seven innings, struck out seven and allowed just the two runs. His ERA has steadily fallen over his last four starts, from 5.48 on May 9 to 4.29 today. And he has gone seven innings three times in that stretch as well. This is the pitcher that the Orioles hoped they were getting in that big deal with Tampa over the winter.
The bullpen only needed to cover two innings, but they were good and reliable. Andrew Kittredge got the hold in the eighth. It looks like he is all the way back from his early struggles. And Rico Garcia threw up another zero in the ninth, as he has been doing all season long. The Orioles really found something there.
It wasn’t the most impressive night from the offense, but their winning formula was on display. They hit a home run (two, in fact!), this time it was one off the bat of Coby Mayo and another from Pete Alonso. Usually they win games in which they go deep. And they continue to show an ability to manufacture a run, turning a Tyler O’Neill single into a “double” with a stolen base, and then having Leody Taveras bunt him over to third.
This shift in approach that allows for steals and bunts is refreshing. It feels like a rare moment of introspection where the Orioles realized that some parts of their lineup are weaker than others. Giving up an out with a bunt isn’t a terrible outcome if you are concerned that the player would otherwise strikeout or hit into a double play. Taveras has been a good trooper with all of this too, now leading the AL in sac bunts.
How quickly the vibe shifted around the Orioles is impressive. It took one good home stretch, and now these guys feel unbeatable. That won’t last forever. Every team has ebbs and flows. But for now, the Orioles have saved their season. Maybe this will be a fun summer after all.
Links
No righty has homered onto Eutaw Street. Here’s why Alonso could be the first | Orioles.com
It’s probably not “impossible” for a right-handed hitter to get it out there, but man it would be a sight to see. Camden Yards is never a particularly windy park either, so it’s not like you are going to get the ball up into a jet stream. You are welcome to try though, Pete!
Some reasons for the Orioles getting on a roll | Roch Kubatko
It’s an oversimplification, but nearly everyone is playing better than they were in April. It is particularly evident on the starting staff and then from the duo of Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo. Pair that with continued solid work from some of the other regulars, and suddenly you have the contender that many expected the Orioles to be.
The unexpected centerpiece of the Orioles’ rotation turnaround? Brandon Young. | The Baltimore Banner
I was fortunate enough to be at Saturday’s game, which Young started. He looked good. Like, really good! He mixed pitches, maintained velocity, and kept an even demeanor throughout. I’m not gonna say he is the Orioles best pitcher, but he has certainly been a catalyst. His ability to get outs feels like it has put pressure on others to improve. And they certainly have done that.
Former MLB player, 26, intends to play college football at SMU | The Athletic
Jordyn Adams played in 10 games for the Orioles last year. He had come to the team after being a top prospect with the Angels but never finding his footing at the big league level. Now, it seems he is ditching baseball altogether in favor of a football comeback.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Brandon Waddell turns 32 today. He pitched in one game for the 2021 Orioles.
- Ramón Urías is 32 years old. From 2020 through ‘25, Urías was a crucial utility player for the O’s, even winning a Gold Glove in 2022 for his work, and posting a solid 105 OPS+ in that time.
- Robert Machado is 53 today. His O’s stint spanned parts of two seasons from 2003 to ‘04, when he was a reserve catcher for the big league squad.
- Izzy Molina celebrates his 55th. He played in one game for the Orioles in 2002, which was still impressive because it came four years after he had last been in a major league game.
- Aaron Ledesma is 55 today. The utilityman played for four different big league teams in just a five-year MLB career. That included the 1997 campaign spend in Baltimore.
- Jim Gentile is 92 years old. The Orioles Hall of Famer spent four fantastic seasons in Baltimore from 1960 through ‘63. His standout year came in ‘61 when he hit .302/.423/.646 with 46 home runs and a league-leading 141 RBI. That earned him a third-place finish in MVP, behind Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.
This day in O’s history
2019 – The annual amateur draft takes place today. Despite some rumors to the contrary, the Orioles do as they are expected and select Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick.
