Taking stock of the Os before the playoffs begin

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With the MLB playoffs coming up, many Baltimore fans are pondering one giant question: What will the Orioles look like heading into the playoffs? As the Orioles play their final stretch of games, they have the chance to win the American League East for the second year in a row. This is if they can win more games than the New York Yankees before the season ends. These two teams have been neck and neck since opening day, both going for that one seed spot to secure a first-round bye and a direct advance to the Division Series. This could be huge for the Orioles as it avoids elimination in the first series and allows them time for players to recover and prepare.

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The hope is that everyone can stay healthy through this stretch of games, but there are no guarantees. There have been a lot of ups and downs for the Orioles this season, with players getting injured, players being brought up from the minors, and trades being made. They have lost some big names like Jorge Mateo, Jordan Westburg, Kyle Bradish, and John Means. Although these players have been lost, the team is still looking promising as they acquired players like Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad, Albert Suarez, and Seranthony Dominguez. Not to mention the players that have been putting in work all season, such as MVP-caliber Gunnar Henderson, veteran Anthony Santander, rookie Colton Cowser, and catcher Adley Rutchsman.

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The Orioles’ offense has been looking good this season with these players as they, on average, score five runs a game, which is the third-best in the MLB. Where they seem to lack is their defense, more specifically: pitching. The pitching this year has been dragging the Orioles down, and it is not their fault, as many of their starters and bullpen have been injured. So although the team is scoring on an elite level, they are still giving up a lot of runs, allowing teams to bounce right back into games. Luckily, acquiring players like Albert Suarez and Seranthony Dominguez has made the pitching a bit better, which is just what they need heading into the playoffs. Looking at these players and improvements, if the Orioles can manage to stay healthy, it is safe to say that they have the ability to make it far in the playoffs. The question now becomes: Can they make it all the way?