The Baltimore Orioles are not a team you look at and think of as a clear postseason contender.
They are still at the very bottom of the American League East, which is the toughest division in all of baseball.
Plus, the Boston Red Sox are starting to heat up, and they have the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays standing in the way.
But after a very bad start to the season, a little hope has emerged.
Orioles insider Steve Melewski points out that there have been some big improvements after their 6-14 start, specifically noting their 12-11 record in their last 23 games.
Orioles now playing winning baseball for a larger period of the season than they were not. Very visible progress.
* First 20g, went 6-14 (.300)
* Last 23g, are 12-11 (.522)— Steve Melewski (@masnSteve) May 24, 2022
Improvements In Baltimore
They still have aways to go, but the Orioles have played much better than they did through the first 20 games of the season.
12-11 isn’t great, but it’s better than 6-14.
It also should be noted that Baltimore is only 4.5 games behind the Blue Jays for the third Wild Card spot in the American League.
Are the Orioles likely to make it to the postseason?
Probably not.
But where they sit in the Wild Card race could provide fans with a little sense of hope.
4.5 games back at the end of May is a deficit that can be made up with as much time left in the season as there is right now, even for a team like the Orioles.
That extra Wild Card spot is really helping teams like them out and giving teams that would not normally be in the mix a chance to contend.
Chances are that it won’t stay that way for the Orioles and other teams that were not expected to contend, but for now, they’ll take it.
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