Another win, O’Hearn is loved, and two key rehabs starting soon.
Good Morning Birdland,
What a win! The Orioles topped the Yankees 5-3 on Friday night in what can only be described as a “team win.” Tomoyuki Sugano struggled, but battled while on the mound. The bullpen tossed 5.1 scoreless innings. The lineup collected 11 hits, including a pair of pinch-hit base knocks. And Tony Mansolino pulled off a managerial masterclass, subbing players in and out at the right moment each time.
These Birds continue to roll. They are 12-6 in June, only the Astros have more wins in MLB. They are six games back in the wild card race, and have trimmed the AL East gap to 10 games for the first time since May 15.
Their pitching staff has turned into a top 10 group, ranking eighth in MLB with a 3.47 team ERA in June, and they are first in all of baseball with a 3.11 FIP. First!
It’s going well on offense too. Their 114 wRC+ is tied for fourth in MLB this month, and they are fourth in the league with 26 home runs. It would be nice to see them score a little more often without the help of a home run, but you can’t expect them to abandon their offensive approach entirely.
The Orioles are nearing a full month in which they have won two-thirds of their games, dating back to May 24. It would be asking a lot for them to continue on this pace through the trade deadline. But if they did, that would see them go 22-11 from now until July 31. Add that to their current record, and the Orioles would be 55-53 at the end of July.
That would be incredible. It would also be asking the front office to make a pretty big call on buying or selling.
Links
Surging Orioles ‘keep believing,’ open series in Bronx with comeback win | MLB.com
Just keep winning! We know this team has the talent to win a ton of baseball games. They just needed to get healthy and start getting a little luckier. That has been happening in June.
Players hoping O’Hearn gets voted into All-Star Game | Roch Kubatko
You gotta hand it to O’Hearn and the Orioles for turning him into such a good hitter these last few years. His numbers in Kansas City were not good at all, and now he is a viable all-star candidate.
A little machine is making a big difference for Orioles’ Coby Mayo’s defense | The Baltimore Banner
Mayo’s defense has looked alright at first base. It will probably get even better as he works on the position. But it’s still all about the bat with him. Luckily, things are trending in the right direction there. He’s got a .669 OPS in June, his best month as an MLBer yet.
Orioles’ Mateo, O’Neill closer to rehab stints; Rutschman scratched with abdominal tightness | BaltimoreBaseball.com
It will be nice to get Jorge Mateo back. The team needs his speed and versatility off the bench. The Tyler O’Neill return is less pressing, but he will be activated when ready. Right now, it would seem like Dylan Carlson would have the tough luck demotion, but there is still time for another roster move to happen and make room.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Sendy Rleal turns 45 today. He spent the 2006 season in the Orioles bullpen, and then never pitched in MLB again.
- Luis Rivera is 47. His stint with the Orioles lasted just one game in 2000.
- Rick Sutcliffe is 69 years old. Between 1992 and ‘93, the righty had a 5.00 ERA over 403.1 innings for the Orioles, but his place is etched in team history as the first person to throw an official pitch at Camden Yards.
- The late Eddie Lopat (b. 1918, d. 1992) was born on this day. He pitched in 10 games with the Orioles in 1955.
This day in history
1956 – The Orioles and White Sox both only get one hit, but the Orioles lose 1-0.