The Orioles may be younger, however they’re not new to this.
Sure, this group has by no means been this good. But most of the gamers in Baltimore’s clubhouse went by means of a pressurized stretch run final yr.
The 2022 Orioles entered September two video games again of a wild-card spot, however the magic the membership discovered in the summertime waned because it missed the postseason by three video games. Anthony Santander, one of many veterans who braved the rebuild, believes understanding what it feels wish to compete for a playoff spot — and to fall wanting one — will assist down the stretch because the Orioles look to win their first American League East title since 2014.
“I think last year’s experience really helped us,” Santander stated by means of crew interpreter Brandon Quinones. “We’ve been through a stretch here where we’ve been in first place for a while. I think the important thing is to just take it day by day, continuing to work hard each and every day with that preparation. … And hopefully we can carry that into the playoffs.”
Ryan McKenna, the Orioles’ fifth outfielder who was additionally a member of the 2022 membership, stated lacking the playoffs final yr was a motivating issue coming into the offseason. But the principle one now, he stated, is constructing off the success they’ve had to date this season — on tempo for 101 wins for the primary time hitting the century mark since 1980 — to enter the postseason driving excessive.
“The precedent that we set early this year and even last year is we’re trying to win. It’s a communal effort,” McKenna stated. “Every man has their very own issues to do to assist the crew win, finally, after which coming collectively and doing that on a nightly foundation. We’ve gained extra video games this yr than we did final yr, and that simply exhibits that mindset that’s type of grown previously two years.
“We still got a month left and got to finish strong, keeping that same precedent we set at the beginning of the year. When we do that, it’s going to be a really cool outcome.”
The advantages of that have final yr, although, can also be realizing the crew fell brief late when it had an opportunity to earn a wild-card spot.
After a sluggish begin to the 2022 season, the Orioles emerged in the summertime as contenders. They gained their first three September video games for a 41-22 mark since late June. But the membership stumbled down the stretch, dropping 18 of its last 30 contests. September, with a tough schedule that featured 20 video games versus the AL East and 4 in opposition to the soon-to-be World Series-champion Houston Astros, was the membership’s first dropping month since May.
“We played in some high-pressure games last year in September, our guys got to experience that,” supervisor Brandon Hyde stated. “Love the best way we hung in there final yr, I used to be actually pleased with our crew. We had a very, actually powerful September schedule final yr, and we fought all the best way to the tip. A whole lot of the blokes which can be in that room proper now did that.
“For them to experience some of those high-intensity games in a [wild-card] race, I think it’s beneficial for this year.”
Cedric Mullins stated one of many variations between these Orioles and people Orioles is the stability of the lineup.
“In terms of our offense, it’s a combination of guys trading off being hot and cold,” the middle fielder stated. “When two or three guys are hot, they’re able to help carry the offense to spell those one or two or three guys who are waiting to hit their stride.”
McKenna stated the additions to the roster are a big motive the membership is healthier this yr — and extra ready for a playoff push.
Rookies Gunnar Henderson, Yennier Cano and Jordan Westburg spent most or all the 2022 marketing campaign within the minors. Henderson has been maybe the crew’s finest participant; Cano was an All-Star; and Westburg has boosted the membership’s infield rotation.
The crew added veterans Kyle Gibson, James McCann and Adam Frazier within the offseason, and all three have been upgrades over their predecessors within the rotation, behind the plate and at second base, respectively. Ryan O’Hearn has been certainly one of baseball’s greatest surprises, main the crew in OPS after struggling for years in Kansas City, and the membership revived Aaron Hicks’ profession after he flamed out in New York with the Yankees. Relievers Danny Coulombe, Jacob Webb and Shintaro Fujinami — and doubtlessly Jorge López — have all pitched higher in Baltimore than at their earlier stops.
“I think we’ve added some pieces player-wise that have helped a tremendous amount,” McKenna stated. “Guys have stepped up and the individuals who have been enjoying on daily basis have continued to develop and mature and play in addition to they will.
“And clubhouse-wise we haven’t taken away from anything we had last year. We’ve only learned and grown and improved in every way.”
After taking two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend, the Orioles (85-51) prolonged their lead over the Tampa Bay Rays (83-54) atop the AL standings to 2 1/2 video games. While all 26 remaining video games matter, there are 4 in mid-September that matter twice as a lot.
Baltimore will host Tampa Bay from Sept. 14 to 17 for his or her last sequence in opposition to each other this yr. The crew that wins the sequence — in the event that they don’t cut up it — might have a leg up on claiming the division crown. FanGraphs provides the Orioles a 100% likelihood and the Rays 99.8% odds to make the playoffs. Baltimore is favored by the web site’s projections at 68.6% to win the division.
“We have four more games against them and those are going to be really important games for us,” Santander stated. “Honestly, just trying to be consistent and continue doing the daily work so we can continue to get the job done.”
Hyde doesn’t need his gamers to alter something over the ultimate month of the common season. The fifth-year skipper was an assistant with the Chicago Cubs, who gained the World Series in 2016, and he is aware of huge video games in September and playoff ones in October have “serious adrenaline.” But Hyde, who suffered by means of the rebuild alongside Santander, Mullins and others, nonetheless needs his gamers to soak it in.
“This is a fun time right now,” Hyde stated. “We should be enjoying this.”
What’s to come back?
A 3-game sequence in opposition to certainly one of MLB’s worst groups, a time without work and a weekend set in opposition to a Boston Red Sox crew at present 14 1/2 video games behind the Orioles.
After going all-in on the deadline slightly than commerce Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels have gone 9-24. The membership is at its lowest level of the season after being swept by the lowly Oakland Athletics.
The Orioles then fly from Anaheim again to the East Coast to tackle the Red Sox for the final time this season. Like the Angels, the Red Sox are struggling as losers of 5 of their final seven.
What was good?
The potential resurgence of one of many crew’s finest gamers.
Since he injured his groin in late May, Cedric Mullins hasn’t been the identical hitter. He was maybe the crew’s finest earlier than the harm, which landed him on the injured listing twice and triggered him to overlook about two months, however he hit simply .215 with a .649 OPS in his first 34 video games since he returned from his first IL stint.
But Mullins started to interrupt out over the weekend, going 5-for-12 within the sequence win with a three-run house run Saturday and a go-ahead RBI single Sunday. He is the crew’s finest hitter with runners in scoring place, slashing .329/.408/.622 for a 1.029 OPS in such conditions.
What wasn’t?
The beginning pitchers on the fence.
The Orioles have powerful choices to make subsequent week and subsequent month. When left-hander John Means doubtless returns from the injured listing this weekend, the membership must determine whether or not to place its former No. 1 starter again within the rotation or stash him within the bullpen. In October, Baltimore must select its four-man rotation for the postseason, the ultimate spot of which is able to doubtless fall to certainly one of its 4 veterans.
Kyle Gibson on Wednesday allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Chicago White Sox. Cole Irvin on Friday gave up 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings, and Jack Flaherty on Sunday surrendered 4 runs in 4 2/3 frames.
On the farm
The sport’s finest minor league system had some motion Sunday.
No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, making the leap to his fourth stage this season. 2023 first-round choose Enrique Bradfield Jr. and two different draftees had been additionally promoted, making the leap from Low-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen.
Holliday joins a Tides roster that’s chock-full of the group’s finest prospects. Two of them — Coby Mayo and Connor Norby — put up huge numbers final week. Mayo, the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect, went 6-for-22 with three house runs, whereas Norby, the membership’s Eleventh-best prospect, went 9-for-26 with 4 doubles and two lengthy balls.
Orioles at Angels
Monday, 9:38 p.m.
TV: MASN, FS1
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com