MLB: Five Teams Outperforming Run Differentials
By Ehsan Kassim
5. Baltimore Orioles
2016 Record: 51-36
Run Differential: +41
2016 PythagenPat: 48-39
+/-: +3
2016 BaseRuns: 47-40
+/-: +4
At the All-Star break, the Baltimore Orioles lead the American League East by two games over the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. Something that was not all that expected after an offseason of heavy criticism levied their way.
The Orioles have very slightly outperformed their record, which could mean the difference between winning the division and potentially sitting out the playoffs in a highly competitive division and Wild Card race over in the AL.
Led by their high-powered offense, the Orioles lead the American League in home runs and rank fourth in fWAR. The Orioles also hit for the third best average in the league, which all combined, makes their offense a force, as their wRC+ ranks second behind the Boston Red Sox.
On the pitching side, the Orioles hold their own with a middle-of-the-pack pitching staff that ranks seventh in fWAR in the league.
The Orioles’ ERA is middle-of-the-pack in the American League, but the team’s FIP of 4.47 is the fifth worst in the American League. That is the main weakness the team needs to address at the trade deadline.
Unfortunately for the Orioles, Ubaldo Jimenez owns a eyesore 7.38 ERA and a 4.91 FIP in 81.2 innings of work in 2016. The Orioles need to either get better production from Jimenez or they need to move on pretty quickly in the second half.
Next: Number 4