Orioles Report 9/5

 

Photo: Ryan Sun/ AP

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! I know the Baltimore Orioles did. Another strong week in the books as we extend our lead to 3.5 over Tampa for the AL East crown. 

With no other teams in the American League over 80 wins yet, whoever does take the division is seemingly locked in for the first round bye. Not sure if we'd want it though given how much momentum we've been building up! What a crazy spot to be in, as a unanimous top three team in the MLB. We love every second it; but let's talk last week.

Record since Last Orioles Report: 4-2

Overall Record: 86-51

Final Two against Chicago

Tuesday night was status quo for the Birds. Good Dean was back on the bump, giving up one earned over six to the White Sox. The offense didn't put him in a position to get the decision though, only providing one run of support. 

Photo: Brent Skene/ USA Today

As soon as Kremer's day was done though, the flood gates opened. Anthony Santander came up with the sacks full and hit a bases clearing double in the bottom of the seventh to break the 1-1 tie. The Orioles put up a five spot the next inning, courtesy of a Cedric Mullins groundout, RBI singles by Adley Rutschman and Santander and a two run double by Ryan McKenna. 

Fuji was shaky again in the ninth, surrendering two runs on four hits, but the eight run lead was insurmountable. 9-3 Baltimore win.

With the sweep on the line Wednesday, Kyle Gibson decided to throw batting practice. Nine hits and seven earned runs over just 4.1 innings of work-- not what Brandon Hyde was hoping for from the veteran, especially after the Orioles jumped ahead 4-0 in the bottom of the first. The bats went dormant from there, as Chicago shelled Gibson and reliever Austin Voth. 10-5 loss to wrap up the set.

One positive from that final game was Tony Taters staying hot, he went 2-4 with a double and his 26th home run. 

Out to Arizona for a Trio

Classic Cole Irvin start to kick things off in the desert: got knocked around a little, some hard hit balls, a few jams to escape, but just four earned. Not bad, especially considering the scoring came on two two-run home runs by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Christian Walker. 

Unfortunately for Cole, Ryan O'Hearn was the only Oriole having productive at bats, driving in Gunnar in the first and eighth on a single and ground rule double, respectively. The team only mustered six hits outside of those against an effective, unfaithful Zach Davies; falling 4-2 in game one.

Scoring wasn't a problem the rest of the series though! After Kyle Bradish allowed two runs in the bottom of the third, the bats exploded for six in the top of the fourth. Cedric Mullins hit a three run shot to put Baltimore ahead, before Adam Frazier and James McCann hit back to back RBI doubles, followed by a run scoring Rutschman single. When it rains, it pours. 

Photo: Ross D. Franklin/ Associated Press

It was more than enough with Bradish locked in on the mound. Six innings, four hits and just those two earned-- our Ace, ladies and gentleman. Adley would tack on a solo homer for good measure in the seventh, helping the Orioles bury the D'Backs 7-3.

Jack Flaherty took the bump for the decisive game in this series, and admittedly was pretty pedestrian. The trade deadline acquisition got smacked around throughout his 4.2, giving up four earned on seven hits, two of which were long balls. Starting to feel like another Kyle Gibson-esque pitcher for us, maybe with a slightly higher of ceiling.

Luckily for Birdland though, the lineup was up to the task of keeping up on the scoreboard. O'Hearn and Henderson delivered two-run singles in the first and second to help keep pace through Flaherty's innings. Then came a four run sixth to pull away for good, thanks to a Cedric Mullins RBI single and doubles by Jordan Westburg and Adley. 8-5 win to wrap up the series against a scrappy Arizona group.

Game One Against the Sad Angels

With no Ohtani or Mike Trout in the opposing lineup, this game should've been a cakewalk for the O's. Lo and behold...it actually was! Grayson threw another phenomenal six innings, striking out seven while giving up just two runs. His emergence has really been a key component to our hot streak over the last few weeks.

The offense put up three in the third to help build G-Rod a lead, courtesy of a run scoring Austin Hays double and RBI singles by Ryan Mountcastle and Aaron Hicks. After Randall Grichuk pulled the Angels within one on a solo homer, our guy Gunnar responded with a three run dong of his own to put the game out of reach for the Hapless Halos. Yennier Cano gets his sixth save and the Orioles are winners in game one, 6-3. 

Farm Report

-Conner Norby's currently riding a nine game hitting streak for the Tides, coming off a week where he went 9-26 with two long balls and four RBI. Still not sure how he's going to fit into our infield next season

-Coby Mayo continues to hit bombs...jacking three out and driving in six against Worcester

-Chayce McDermott was absolutely dialed in Saturday night, striking out seven over seven, allowing just two hits, one walk and one run

-Jackson Holliday batted .428 on the week, scoring six runs but surprisingly failing to drive one in

-John Rhodes had two homers and four RBI in his five appearances against Akron, a good sign that his August power surge is going to carry over

-Another sharp outing for Brandon Young, this time going 4.2 with three hits allowed, one earned run and seven K's

-Samuel Basallo returned from his minor injury with a vengeance, going 5-7 in two appearances with three homers and six RBI. He also added four walks, boosting his OBP for the series to an eye catching .818

-Best week of action for Frederick Bencosme at the High-A level, batting .407 with six RBI

-Trey McGough made his first relief appearance this season for the Ironbirds, going four hitless and scoreless Friday night

-Mac Horvath popped this week for Delmarva, going 8 for 19 with a hit in every game. He also scored seven runs and went 7/7 on stolen bases

Photo: Camden Chat

-Stiven Acevedo brought his power bat down to Columbia, hitting three home runs and driving in eight during the series

-Great outing from Raul Rangel on Sunday, throwing five shutout innings en route to his second decision win of 2023

Concluding Thoughts

The waiver addition of Jorge Lopez feels like a master class move by Mike Elias. Even if he ends up completely flaming out for us, the fact that he managed to acquire Cano and Povich + some for the reliever, and then reclaim him for free during the biggest playoff push in my lifetime... A+ move for the best GM in the sport.

With the postseason in mind, the three man rotation needs to go Bradish-Rodriguez-Kremer. Gibson can eat some innings, but is too volatile. Cole Irvin arguably adds more as a long reliever than he does a starter, though he's been better over the last month. Jack Flaherty would probably my #4, if I had to choose, but would really prefer to not be in that spot. It'll be curious to see how John Means factors into that equation too over the coming weeks.

Two more versus Angels, up to Boston and then back home to face the reeling Cardinals. No reason the wins can't keep racking up.

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@Choppinglines

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