The Baltimore Orioles are having a challenging season, despite a recent spark of improvement. After a successful 2021 where they won 101 games, the team entered this season with hopes of returning to the playoffs. However, as of Wednesday, their record stood at 31 wins and 41 losses. Their latest setback came against the Tampa Bay Rays, where they squandered an 8-0 lead and ended the game with a disappointing 12-8 loss.
The game started positively for the Orioles as Colton Cowser, Christopher Morel, and Ramón Laureano all hit home runs in the second inning, scoring eight runs. This marked the highest-scoring inning for the Orioles this season and matched their total scoring output for several games. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse when the Rays responded in the third inning with three runs, pushing Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers off the mound.
Scott Blewitt then took over pitching but allowed another run. Later, Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge came in and each gave up four runs, contributing to the team’s downfall. This comeback by the Rays tied a record for their largest deficit overcome in team history, a remarkable feat that comes against the backdrop of the Orioles’ disappointing performance.
This recent loss marks a tough point for the Orioles. They hadn’t relinquished a lead this large since April 2017, during a season that ultimately ended with a 75-87 record. The current struggles mirror a series of ups and downs that began with the firing of manager Brandon Hyde earlier in the season, following a rocky start where the team found itself at 15 wins and 28 losses.
Despite a six-game winning streak from late May to early June, the Orioles were unable to build on that momentum. After that streak, they recorded a more encouraging 12 wins and 5 losses, but the good feelings vanished quickly with the dramatic loss to the Rays. The pitching side of their game poses a significant concern, as they currently rank as one of the worst teams in baseball for earned run average (ERA). According to Baseball Prospectus, their playoff chances sit at just 8%, indicating a mountain to climb if they hope to make a significant turnaround this season.
On the other side of the field, the Rays’ victory keeps them in contention for the American League East, where they currently sit just 1.5 games behind the New York Yankees and ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. They are set to face the Orioles again on Thursday, aiming to secure a series win before heading to play against the formidable Detroit Tigers this weekend.
As the season progresses, the Orioles will need to find a way to stabilize their pitching and recapture the spirit that led to their previous successes. The current state of the team has left fans wondering if they can bounce back or if further changes are needed to set them on a better path for the future.
