The Baltimore Orioles recently won a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
As of Thursday afternoon, they own the second-best record in the American League at 24-13.
Their run differential is comfortably positive, at +29.
After finishing 83-79 last year, they are confirming that they are serious about contending.
However, they do have flaws, and a former executive and current analyst warned about them over-performing at the moment.
“‘They’re going to be fortunate to be the third Wild Card team in the American League.’ @StevePhillipsGM thinks the @Orioles are not as good as advertised and it all comes back to the starting rotation,” MLB Network tweeted with audio of a Phillips interview.
"They're going to be fortunate to be the third Wild Card team in the American League."@StevePhillipsGM thinks the @Orioles are not as good as advertised and it all comes back to the starting rotation. #Orioles | #Birdland📷 | @Xavier_Scruggs pic.twitter.com/BGbSLTSPUH
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 11, 2023
While it’s true that the Orioles rotation isn’t anything special at the moment, there are certain factors to consider before writing them off.
Grayson Rodriguez currently has a 5.08 ERA, but he was the top pitching prospect in baseball before the season for a reason, and he could figure things out any minute.
The Orioles have a similarly talented arm in the minors, DL Hall, ready to be challenged at the MLB level.
Their ace, John Means, should return from long-term surgery for the second half to give the rotation a boost.
And last, but not least, we are talking about the deepest collection of young, talented position players in baseball: Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander, and many more.
Don’t you think the O’s will address the rotation at the trade deadline?
It would be foolish to ignore that.
This is an organization that is in a really good place, and they will keep competing until the end.
NEXT: Jackson Holliday Continues To Prove His Dominance In The Minors
