Remember the excitement in MLB when the Tampa Bay Rays opened the season with a 13-game winning streak?
Those were the days!
Well, the Rays remain a top team, no doubt.
They should be playing in the postseason in a couple of months.
However, as of Thursday afternoon, they are no longer the at the top spot in the AL East.
That honor belongs to the Baltimore Orioles now, per FOX Sports: MLB.
The Baltimore Orioles are now in first place in the AL East pic.twitter.com/uMQ6QrI2Os
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 19, 2023
With their 8-5 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, and the Rays’ loss to the Texas Rangers, the Orioles are now 58-37.
They are tied with the 60-39 Rays, but Baltimore’s superior winning percentage (.611 to .606) gives them the edge.
The Orioles taking over the East is a scary thought for the rest of the division for a series of reasons.
One of them is that not all of their young stars have been playing well.
For example, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser are yet to get going.
If/when they do, this team’s offense could be unstoppable.
The Orioles not only have a talented and deep core of position players, but they also have impact prospects in Triple-A and Double-A.
This should help them acquire an ace at the deadline, whether it is Max Scherzer, Dylan Cease, or any other.
The O’s are slowly emerging as the favorites to win the division for the first time in a while.
Fans had to endure some rough years since 2016, but they are now on the verge of becoming World Series contenders.
They need some luck and a pitcher or two.
NEXT: The Orioles Are On A Truly Historic Run
