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Baltimore Orioles: A Closer Look at the Wild Card Roster

By Nate Wardle

Sep 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles pinch hitter Hyun Soo Kim (25) is greeted by first baseman Chris Davis (19) after hitting a two run home run against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles pinch hitter Hyun Soo Kim (25) is greeted by first baseman Chris Davis (19) after hitting a two run home run against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles will play in Game 163 Tuesday night, in hopes of earning at least three more games before their 2016 season comes to an end.

Buck Showalter, the manager of the Baltimore Orioles, announced his roster for the Wild Card Game on Tuesday, and it comes with a few surprises. However, when it comes down to it, not as many as you might expect.

For one game, the team only really needs one starter, and that will be Chris Tillman. Also, the team went with nine other pitchers, and most are relievers.

Those relievers (in order of possible appearance/role in the bullpen) are Zach Britton, Darren O’Day, Brad Brach, Mychal Givens, Donnie Hart, Brian Duensing, Tommy Hunter, Dylan Bundy, and Ubaldo Jimenez.

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Ubaldo will be the long man should Tillman’s start go awry. However, if he is not used, and the Orioles win, he could very well be the Game 1 starter in Texas.

Bundy can fill any number of roles, from long man to hard-throwing reliever. I think this will be his role for as long as the playoffs last.

Hunter (the team’s designated celebration speaker from now one) and Duensing likely will each only face batters in a situational role.

Duensing as a left-handed specialist, Hunter as a right-handed specialist.

Hart will likely be used as a left-handed specialist, but has shown he can face hitters from either side and get them out. Then we get to the back end of the O’s bullpen, featuring Givens, Brach, O’Day and Britton.

If the Orioles have a close lead, don’t be surprised to see Britton go more than one inning, much like he did on Sunday.

As we turn to the position players, I will discuss not only the players on the roster, but also their role in the game.

The catchers are not surprising, featuring Matt Wieters and Caleb Joseph. Everyone knows who the starter will be, so let’s move on.

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Infielders are (around the horn, then reserves) Chris Davis, Jonathan Schoop, J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado, Pedro Alvarez, Trey Mancini and Ryan Flaherty.

Mancini will be a right-handed power option off the bench. Alvarez will be a left-handed power option off the bench, as I think he has permanently been replaced by Michael Bourn in the starting lineup at this point.

Flaherty, of course, will be a defensive specialist/utility guy in case something bad happens.

The outfielders are (from left to right, then reserves) Hyun Soo Kim, Adam Jones, Michael Bourn, Mark Trumbo (DH), Drew Stubbs and Nolan Reimold.

Stubbs will be a speed option off the bench, and depending on where he is used will depend on how Reimold is used. Reimold did make several nice catches in left field at Rogers Centre last time the Orioles played there, so don’t be surprised if he is a defensive replacement for Kim.

As for batting order, I think the biggest question will center around where Bourn bats. If he bats first, Kim will be near the bottom of the order. If Kim is second to Adam Jones, Bourn will be at the bottom.

My predicted batting order

  1. Adam Jones CF
  2. Hyun Soo Kim LF
  3. Manny Machado 3B
  4. Mark Trumbo DH
  5. Matt Wieters C
  6. Chris Davis 1B
  7. Jonathan Schoop 2B
  8. J.J. Hardy SS
  9. Michael Bourn RF.

Next: Orioles Needed A Hero and They Received Two

This roster of 25 players will help determine whether the Orioles make it to Texas, or end their season Tuesday night?

What do you think is going to happen?

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