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Baltimore Orioles: 5 Players Who Need a Big September to Make Playoffs

By Joe Serpico

Aug 30, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) high fives teammates after beating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) high fives teammates after beating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chris Davis

Aug 27, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Everyone is so quick to get on Chris Davis about his .220 batting average and leading the league in strikeouts. Yet with a month to go, he is sitting at 32 home runs, 72 RBI and 84 runs scored.

What gets unnoticed is his effect on Mark Trumbo, who leads the league in home runs and near the league lead in RBI. Teams that pitch around Davis are forced to go after Trumbo and vice versa depending on the lineup. There is a reason why the Orioles have had the Major League leader in homers the past four seasons.

The month of July was dreadful for Davis, batting .153 with three home runs and seven RBI. August has been much better, with Davis hitting 10 dingers, slugging .541 and drawing more walks in the past month than any other this season.

What the Orioles need from Crush is a September similar to last season. Davis was a monster in the last month of the season, batting .318 with 12 home runs, 25 RBI and drawing 24 walks. The Orioles were not in the postseason race last season, but Davis’ hot month allowed them to finish the season with a .500 record. If he can put up the same kind of numbers this month, the Orioles get into the postseason.

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