MLB Stock Up: Baltimore Orioles
At the All-Star Break, I wrote a second-half predictions piece and one of the predictions was that the Orioles were going to win the American League East and return to the postseason for the first time since 2016. Why? Well, the Red Sox and Yankees were a mess and still are. The Toronto Blue Jays are a team that can’t always be trusted, as evident as in their first two games at home this week against the Yankees where they had an opportunity to clinch a Wild Card berth and were shutout on back-to-back nights.
The Orioles have been the best baseball in the division and they have proven that last season’s run that came up short in a bid for a Wild Card spot was no fluke. They have a good foundation of youth with Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson leading the way.
Losing closer Felix Bautista is less than ideal in September, but the Orioles have an opportunity to win the AL East this weekend at home with four games against Boston, who has seen a slide this month.
At the beginning of the season, it was thought that Baltimore would be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, but they have exceeded expectations and are going to be the top seed in the American League postseason. You can say that they are a year ahead of schedule.