It’s been a while since the Baltimore Orioles and their fans had much to cheer about.
But in 2022, things look a little bit different.
Granted, the Orioles are still in last place in the American League East division, but after picking up their fifth straight win last night, a 4-1 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Angels, things are looking a little better.
They’re now only five games back of the final AL Wild Card spot and are within four games of the .500 mark.
Last night was their 40th win, and one Orioles writer tweeted some interesting stats that show how many games it took the Orioles to reach 40 wins this year as opposed to previous years.
Game in which the Orioles won their 40th game:
2018: 134
2019: 126
2020: N/A
2021: 126
2022: 84That's 50 games faster than 2018 and 42 faster than both 2019 and 2021.
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) July 8, 2022
O’s Taking Steps Towards Relevance
There might finally be some cause for excitement in the Beltway City.
It’s been since 2016 that the Orioles had really anything to celebrate.
That year, they went 89-73 and took home the second AL Wild Card, but they’ve finished under .500 every season since and finished in last place in the AL East in all but one season.
Now, despite not having a roster with a whole lot of depth, they actually have a chance to run down the third AL Wild Card spot and take it.
Their trade deadline strategy will tell a lot about where the organization is headed in the near future.
If they buy rather than sell, they could potentially set themselves up for a run this year, or at least give themselves some pieces to build around for 2023 and beyond.
There’s now a reason to be hopeful if you’re a fan of the Orioles.
There hasn’t been much to be excited about over the past few seasons, but now, there’s a chance for some excitement.
NEXT: Orioles Making Progress By Piecing Together Wins