The Baltimore Wire
Fansided

Baltimore Orioles: The Challenge of the Remaining Schedule

By Randy Buchman

Jun 24, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; A general view of Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the seventh inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays . Baltimore Orioles defeated Tampa Bay Rays 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; A general view of Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the seventh inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays . Baltimore Orioles defeated Tampa Bay Rays 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Jun 24, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; A general view of Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the seventh inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays . Baltimore Orioles defeated Tampa Bay Rays 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; A general view of Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the seventh inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays . Baltimore Orioles defeated Tampa Bay Rays 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles have a formidable challenge ahead if they are to remain in first place in the American League East through the end of the season.

It may be assumed after that opening statement that the starting rotation is being spoken of. And yes, that is an ongoing challenge. It is a primary theme of Orioles writers in all venues, including HERE just yesterday.

But our focus in this piece is upon the remaining schedule; and the news is that it does not play into the Orioles’ strength, which is winning games at Camden Yards.

The Orioles have the best home record in all of baseball at the ASG break: 33-14.  No other team has more than 30 wins (as do the Dodgers and Red Sox). And the Orioles are among the teams who have already logged the most home games. With 47 already in the books in Baltimore, only the Dodgers with 48 and (thankfully) the Red Sox with 50 have played more home games.

The O’s have struggled on the road, being 18-22. If the Birds win with the same percentages home/away over the final 75 games (34 at home and 41 away), they would end with a final record of 93-69. Would that be good enough? They had that record in 2012 as a Wild Card team, and it again this year might not be enough to take the divisional title. It is reasonable to think that the Orioles will find it difficult to sustain a winning percentage of 70% at home, though also one would hope they could do better than the current 45% on the road.

A total of 41 of the 75 remaining games will be played against AL East opponents. I would expect Toronto to be the larger foe than Boston, and the O’s have three home games and six road games against the Jays. Conversely, Baltimore has six home games with the Sox and only three more in Boston.

Another challenge is the Yankees. The Orioles are yet to go to Yankee Stadium, therefore having a total of 10 games to be played in New York, including the final three of the season. Their ability to deal with the Yanks in NYC is going to be a big, big theme of this second half.

And finally within the division, the O’s have 10 games remaining with the Rays – four at home and six on the road.

More from Baltimore Orioles

There are other challenges beyond the AL East. Among top teams, the Orioles have the four-game series (2+2) with the Nationals, and three games in San Francisco on a western trip of 10 games including the White Sox and Oakland. All of the Texans come to Baltimore – four with the Astros (who clobbered the Birds in Houston) and three with the Rangers.

This is not going to be easy, but frankly it never is. The Orioles needed to take advantage of the heavily home-oriented first half schedule, and they have certainly done that. Now they need to take the fight and domination more aggressively onto the road with them. They have the talent to do it.

Home/Baltimore Orioles