Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE — Despite already being crowned AL East champions, the Baltimore Orioles still have much at stake in the final 10 games of the season.
One day after clinching the division, several starters got Wednesday off in the series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays. Nevertheless, the Orioles still managed to sweep the three-game series with a 6-1 victory.
Manager Buck Showalter knows plenty about the playoffs. He will try to balance winning games down the stretch, while keeping his players healthy and the pitching staff fresh.
“Give guys a little extra rest without giving them too much,” Showalter said. “Same with position players. You’re not going to see guys sit for three or four days. We want to make sure we keep Detroit or Kansas City from catching us.”
The Orioles trail the Los Angeles Angels by three games with 10 remaining for the best record in the American League and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Baltimore is 49-29 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, second to only the Angels, who are 51-26 at Angel Stadium.
As a result, home-field advantage could be a major factor in this playoff race.
“We’re excited,” first baseman Steve Pearce said. “We know we can do it. We’re going to play our game and not going to change our game because we won the East. We’re going to go out there and keep our foot on the gas pedal and hope everything works out.”
Right fielder Nick Markakis has been with the Orioles over his entire nine-year career. He missed the last postseason run in 2012 with an injury so he is not taking anything for granted. He got the night off Wednesday after getting hit by a pitch the previous night.
“As good shape as he was in, I think having the offseason he did helped him to be able to play as much as he has,” Showalter said. “I can’t imagine anybody playing a better right field than he has this year. He made some catches I’ve never seen him make before.”
As the Orioles wind down the season, the excitement about what is ahead of them is palpable.
“Everybody’s going to be hungry and dangerous,” Showalter said. “The best of the best start playing in how many days? The best of the best. It’s an honor to be one of those right now, and our guys have earned it. And now, down the road, every team’s got a great story, so to speak. Now the competition, it’s just good to be one of the best, and we get a chance to roll the dice in October.”
