Baltimore Orioles Control Their Postseason Fate

The Baltimore Orioles could find themselves out of the playoff picture with a loss today at the Detroit Tigers, but they are still in of control their postseason dreams.

June seems like so long ago.

The Baltimore Orioles set a MLB record with 56 home runs in June, held a five-game lead in the American League East and seemed like a lock to make the playoffs.

Fast forward to today and they could find themselves out of a playoff spot with a loss tonight.

The O’s are struggling. After going 19-9 in June, they are 29-33 since. And while everyone keeps blaming the starting pitching for their woes, the rotation is doing their part. Steve Melewski of MASN pointed out these numbers for the starters.

"“O’s starting pitchers have recorded seven quality starts the last 11 games with an ERA of 3.36. Over the Orioles’ last 18 games, they have 11 quality starts and a rotation ERA of 3.96.”"

The starters are getting it done. It’s been the offense and bullpen – what is supposed to be the strength of this team – that has left them in this predicament.

Brad Brach has been nothing like the dominant pitcher we saw before the All-Star break. Just when the Orioles scores the game-tying run last night, he gave up a solo home run to Victor Martinez in the next half inning. That one run was enough to get the Detroit Tigers the win and a tie with the O’s for the final wild card spot.

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So after leading the division for 111 days, two different seven-game winning streaks and a spot in the playoffs almost all year, a loss today can put them on the outside looking in.

They absolutely need a win and Ubaldo Jimenez is on the mound. For most of the season, that would have made Oriole fans cringe. But coming off three quality starts and a complete game on Monday, everyone is hopeful that something has finally clicked.

Chris Tillman is coming off the disabled list tomorrow and Kevin Gausman is showing signs of being the dominant pitcher we have been waiting for. But Baltimore is going to need Ubaldo down the stretch. He could be the savior of the Orioles season with a few more performance as we have seen of late.

There are no easy games the rest of the way, but the O’s control their own destiny. Winning the next two games gets them back ahead of the Tigers and a leg up on all the teams behind them. They will see the Boston Red Sox, the team currently atop the AL East, for seven games in the next two weeks.

The teams they need to be ahead of are on their schedule. It would be a gut-wrenching year to miss the playoffs after controlling the division for much of the season. It’s up to Buck Showalter and the gang to get the job done.