The Baltimore Orioles are struggling to get back on track as they face injuries and a long hitting slump, just as the regular season comes to an end.
The team had a strong start with a 57-33 record and led the AL East by three games on July 8. By August 10, they were 70-48 and still in first place, but since then, they have gone 14-19, falling four games behind the New York Yankees with only 11 games left.
“The mojo that we’ve had has just drifted away from us the last few months,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday. “There are reasons for it that are obvious, but a lot of it is we’ve got people here that are experiencing a downturn — whether it’s themselves or the team.”
The injuries Elias mentioned have been a significant issue. The Orioles have been missing three starting pitchers: John Means, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells. Starter Grayson Rodriguez is also out, but the team hopes to have him back by October.
Injuries have also affected the offense. All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg has a hand fracture, and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is dealing with a wrist sprain.
The infield has been further weakened by Ramón Urías’s ankle sprain and Jorge Mateo’s dislocated elbow.
The bullpen has been impacted by Craig Kimbrel’s struggles. He was brought in for $13 million to be the closer but lost that role earlier this summer and gave up six runs in Tuesday night’s 10-0 loss to San Francisco.
Elias is hopeful that Westburg, Mountcastle, and Urías will return before the playoffs. Unfortunately, Mateo had to undergo season-ending surgery.
Despite these challenges, the Orioles still have a chance to catch the Yankees, especially since they will face them in a three-game series in the Bronx next week. Even if they don’t win the division, a wild card spot is very likely.
However, to avoid another early exit from the playoffs, as they were swept by Texas last year after a first-round bye, the team needs to turn things around quickly.
“It’s been an unpleasant stretch here for the latter part of the summer. We’re going to figure this out and we’re going to get out of it,” Elias said. “I think we’re going to make the playoffs and do really well in the playoffs. I believe in these guys, I believe in this (coaching) staff.”
Before the All-Star break, the Orioles were scoring runs easily, and Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander are still hitting home runs.
However, the team’s overall offense has been struggling. In their last three series, they scored three runs in three games against Tampa Bay, were outscored 20-11 while losing two out of three at Boston, and only managed six runs in three games at Detroit.
Because of this, the Orioles ended up with a 3-6 record during that time.
“A lot of people are pressing to make up for other people’s absences or their own slumps,” Elias said. “It’s been a difficult period. We’re all sick of it and ready to get it behind us. I really believe that we’re going to rally down the stretch, kind of get our identity back.”
The Orioles started a three-game series at home against the Giants with a loss on Tuesday night. They will finish their home games with three more against Detroit. Then they will play three games at Yankee Stadium before ending the season with a series at Minnesota.
“I want to believe we still have good baseball to play,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’ve shown signs of putting things together, but it hasn’t quite happened this second half. There’s still time to make it happen.
It’s a real talented group. We’re pitching well. We get some guys going offensively, it could be a dangerous team down the stretch.”
