The Orioles avoided a sweep against the New York Yankees and find themselves one game out of second place in the American League East and holding onto a two-game lead for the second Wild Card. However, their eyes are still on the division and they now welcome in the first-place Toronto Blue Jays for a crucial three-game series. Obviously, every game from here to the end of the season is big, but the O’s have only two series remaining with the Blue Jays, one of which begins tonight (the other is in the last week of the season in the house of horrors known as the Rogers Centre).
There’s no other way to put it: if the O’s want to be serious contenders for the American League East, they have to take two of three, which will be a tough task when Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez and Yovani Gallardo are toeing the rubber.
The Orioles have been inconsistent since July, but still are in position for all the goals they set in March. I still believe they have a run in them, but it has to come soon…as in, starting this series against the Blue Jays.
Gausman Taking the Next Step?
I have been critical of Kevin Gausman and his lack of a third pitch, which has held him back from becoming the pitcher many envisioned when he was drafted out of LSU. That has changed over the last two months and was on full display on Sunday as he used his fastball a season low 53.7% of the time according to FanGraphs.com.
With Chris Tillman on the disabled list, Dylan Bundy maybe showing signs of tiring after allowing five earned runs in two of his last three starts, and the struggles of the veterans in the rotation, Gausman will be looked upon as a guy that can help keep this team afloat over the remainder of the season.
Many have wanted to write Gausman off, especially after seeing how dominant Bundy was when he first entered the rotation, but entering September, the 25-year-old is tied for 18th in all of baseball in strikeouts per nine innings and has a better ERA than Tillman.
Jones Injury Exposes O’s Thin Roster
It’s amazing when a player like Adam Jones goes down with an injury, as the O’s lack of depth is exposed. The Orioles were forced to use Nolan Reimold in centerfield on Friday after Jones left the game and again on Sunday. Steve Pearce then started in right field and even though the team says it was from hitting, the veteran aggravated his forearm injury and had to leave the game as a precaution. All of this also led to Hyun Soo Kim facing a left-handed starter, which was not easy on the eyes.
This is a huge issue for the team right now and hopefully some of the concern will be eased when rosters expand. However, if the team felt those outfielders in the minors could help them now, they would already be here. The key is Joey Rickard returning, which won’t be at the start of September as originally hoped.
Along with the starting rotation, the Orioles lineup against lefties is a storyline to follow over the next month.
