BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles were one of the bigger surprises in baseball during the first half of the season. Many experts and pundits picked them to finish in the lower part of the American League East — some even said the Orioles would end up last.
But the team’s power hitting, solid defense and good bullpen carried the day, and the Orioles ended the first half with a 51-36 record and in first place in the division. They lead both Toronto and Boston by two games heading into the All-Star break.
However, unless the team’s starting rotation can perform more consistently in the second half, the Orioles could struggle to remain in first place. Still, there’s a long way to go, something manager Buck Showalter and his team certainly realize.
“It doesn’t matter at all (now), right?,” he said. “Just make our guys and fans be able to look at the paper or the internet a little more fondly. I might even look at it. Obviously it’s the end game we’re after but reality, it comes back to you that if the season were to end today three teams from the American League East are in.”
The team knew that starting pitching might be an issue heading into the season, and that’s exactly what happened. Chris Tillman (12-2) turned in a solid first half, and the other starters were good at times, but the Orioles simply have not gotten enough production from this group.
Still, they’re optimistic about the second half and winning two of three versus the Angels to keep the division lead when ending the first half.
“I think there are always things that you can work on, but I like the position that we’re in right now,” first baseman Chris Davis said. “Obviously, finishing off the first half with two wins at home is good to build some momentum going into the second half of the season.”
The bullpen will be a huge help in the second half, especially if set-up man Darren O’Day (right hamstring strain) can return from the injury that’s sidelined him since June 3.
O’Day made the All-Star Game last year, and Brad Brach stepped into that role when he went on the DL and earned a spot this year. Brach is 6-1 with an 0.91 ERA in 40 games and having both of them in front of All-Star closer Zach Britton (27 saves in 27 chances) makes Baltimore tough to beat.
The power also should help as the Orioles lead the majors with 137 homers. All-Star Mark Trumbo tops the majors with 28 homers, and he’s gotten help from Chris Davis (22), Manny Machado (19, All-Star), Adam Jones (17) plus Jonathan Schoop (14) as the Orioles could wind up with five players hitting at least 20 homers.
But all of those positives could fall down if the starting pitching doesn’t improve. The starting rotation came into Sunday’s game with a 5.21 ERA, and that needs to change.
If the Orioles keep up their offense, good starting could help them pull away from the division.
“We’ve got to throw the ball a little better,” Tillman said. “Get the ball to the bullpen with a lead. Those guys are good, real good. As long as you set them up the right way, you’ll come out on top most times, I think. We’ve just got to keep playing good baseball.”