By Ryan Decker
Heading into their 10-game West Coast swing, the Baltimore Orioles (59-62) had work to do if it wanted to permanently supplant itself as part of the American League Wild Card race.
However, by winning less than half of the games during the road trip, Baltimore didn’t do itself any favors.
In fact, the O’s buried themselves back into the deep hole they were in not too long ago, and with a tough September schedule just two weeks away.
Baltimore entered the road trip one game under .500, and 2 ½ games out of the second Wild Card spot. At the time, only two teams separated the Orioles and the Kansas City Royals, who owned the final playoff position.
Before action on Friday, Baltimore now finds itself three games back of the pack, with more than double the number of teams in between it and a spot in the postseason.
Albeit, the road trip only cost the O’s just ½ game in the playoff standings, it’s what’s happened around the Orioles that hurts.
Kansas City ran into stiff competition, and Baltimore couldn’t capitalize to take its place. Despite selling at the deadline, the Texas Rangers have stayed afloat, and other teams like the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays all occupy spaces the Orioles would rather be in.
Possibly worst of all for the O’s, the Angels have become one of the hottest teams in baseball.
LA’s other team has quietly had an impressive second half, playing to a 13-5 record over the last three weeks, and owning a winning record for the first time since July 1.
Baltimore, which dropped two of three games against the Halos in Anaheim, starts a six-game home stand Friday, with the first series coming against Mike Scioscia’s club.
The Orioles will need to continue being one of the best home teams in baseball through the weekend and into next week to stay the course. With three games against division-leading Boston coming after the home stretch, the road ahead is certainly not an easy one for Baltimore.
I said prior to the Orioles heading west that it was “now or never” for the O’s. They didn’t strike like they had probably hoped, but they didn’t necessarily strikeout either.
To put it in baseball terms, Baltimore is like a pitcher that fell behind in the count early, battled back to even things up, but the opposing hitter has fouled off a number of its best pitches. The Orioles don’t have too many tricks left in the bag.
But that’s never stopped Buck Showalter before.
Now On Deck 