The Baltimore Orioles have been a pleasant surprise this season.
Picked by many to finish in a very distant last place in the American League East, the Orioles have come out of nowhere and turned themselves into a contender.
The emergence of Adley Rutschman has helped them out a ton and has given them another star player to go with Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Anthony Santander.
Last night, they picked up their 63rd win of the 2022 season in Williamsport.
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, the Orioles over/under win total was at 62.5.
They’ve officially blown past that prediction and now have a shot to reach the postseason.
Caesars Sportsbook listed the Orioles' over/under win total at 62.5 entering the season.
Baltimore won its 63rd game tonight in Williamsport. pic.twitter.com/lB7wrAM65y
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 22, 2022
Orioles Outperform Preseason Expectations
It’s always fun to watch a team come out of nowhere and become a contender.
Much like they did in 2012, the Orioles are doing just that in 2022.
This is a team that was not expected to be a contender, especially with four heavyweights in the AL East division.
It was projected to be a four-team race between the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays, with the Orioles left on the outside looking in, much like it was last year.
It’s been a nice four-team race this year, but it’s the Red Sox who are left on the outside looking in this time.
Starting today, the Orioles were 2.5 games back of the final American League Wild Card spot.
They’ll start a key series with the Chicago White Sox tomorrow.
We’ll see where they go from there.
But even if the Orioles don’t reach the postseason this year, they will have at least exceeded their preseason expectations by a lot.
NEXT: Cedric Mullins Will Join An Elite Group Next Spring