“Baltimore Orioles Finish Strong Season with 101-61 Record and AL East Title”
The Baltimore Orioles had a highly successful 2023 season, finishing with a record of 101-61 and clinching the AL East title. The team’s success can be attributed to their strong pitching and the development of their young players.
On the pitching front, the Orioles finished 7th overall in team ERA and 5th in bullpen ERA. Their bullpen posted an impressive 3.55 ERA, contributing to the team’s success. Despite not having a true ace in their rotation, the Orioles’ pitching staff performed well, ranking 8th in staff WHIP and 9th in staff K-BB%.
One standout pitcher for the Orioles was Kyle Bradish, who had a tremendous year. Bradish posted a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 25% strikeout rate in 168.2 innings. His elite slider played a significant role in his success, and there is potential for further improvement as he continues to refine his pitching repertoire.
Tyler Wells also had a strong season before being shut down due to innings concerns. The converted reliever pitched to a 3.98 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 17.4% K-BB% in 108.2 innings. If Wells can provide the Orioles with 130 or more innings next season, he could be a valuable asset to their rotation.
The biggest positive development for the Orioles was the growth of Grayson Rodriguez, their former top pitching prospect. After struggling with his command and posting a 7.35 ERA in the first half of the season, Rodriguez was sent back down to the minors. Upon his return, he pitched like the promising pitcher he was projected to be, registering a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 17.1% K-BB% in 76.2 innings. With further improvement in strikeouts and command, Rodriguez has the potential to become the ace of the Orioles’ staff.
In addition to their pitching success, the Orioles also saw the continued development of their young hitters. Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson both had impressive seasons, hitting over .250 with 20+ home runs, 80+ runs scored, and 80+ RBI. Henderson, in particular, improved as the year went on, hitting .264/.308/.521 with 15 home runs and five steals in the second half of the season. These young players are expected to remain central to the Orioles’ growing and developing core.
The Orioles also made an under-the-radar signing with Ryan O’Hearn, who had a strong season. O’Hearn hit .289/.322/.480 with 14 home runs, 60 RBI, and five steals in 368 plate appearances. He helped solidify the middle of the lineup until Ryan Mountcastle returned from the injured list.
Despite their success, the Orioles did face some challenges during the season. The injury to closer Felix Bautista was a significant setback for the team. Bautista had a stellar season, but he was placed on the injured list in August and underwent Tommy John surgery in October. Without him, the Orioles’ bullpen struggled, ranking 27th in strikeout rate and 18th in blown saves.
The Orioles also made a trade deadline move to acquire Jack Flaherty, but he struggled in Baltimore, posting a 6.75 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP in 34.2 innings. It is unlikely that the Orioles will bring him back for the next season.
Another area of concern for the Orioles was their stolen base ranking. Despite having speed on their team, they ranked just 16th in stolen bases. This was a disappointment considering the significant increase in stolen base totals across the league. Cedric Mullins, who had stolen 30 bases in each of the last two seasons, battled injuries and finished with just 19 steals in 116 games.
Overall, the Orioles had a highly successful season, finishing with over 100 wins and showcasing the growth and development of their young players. The future looks bright for the team as they continue to build on their success.Baltimore Orioles Finish Strong with 101-61 Record and AL East Title
The Baltimore Orioles had a successful 2023 season, finishing with a record of 101-61 and clinching the AL East title. The team’s pitching staff played a crucial role in their success, ranking 7th overall in team ERA and 5th in bullpen ERA. Despite not having a true ace in their rotation, the Orioles’ pitching staff performed admirably.
One standout player for the Orioles was Kyle Bradish, who had a tremendous year on the mound. Bradish posted a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 25% strikeout rate in 168.2 innings. His elite slider played a significant role in his success, and there is potential for even more improvement as he continues to refine his pitching repertoire.
Tyler Wells also had a strong season before being shut down due to innings concerns. The converted reliever pitched to a 3.98 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 17.4% K-BB% in 108.2 innings. If Wells can stay healthy and contribute more innings next season, he could be a valuable asset for the Orioles’ rotation.
The biggest positive development for the Orioles was the growth of Grayson Rodriguez, their former top pitching prospect. After struggling with his command and posting a 7.35 ERA in the first half of the season, Rodriguez was sent back down to the minors. Upon his return, he pitched like the ace the Orioles knew he could be, registering a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 17.1% K-BB% in 76.2 innings. With further improvement in strikeouts and command, Rodriguez has the potential to become the ace of the Orioles’ staff.
The Orioles also saw continued development from their young hitters, particularly Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson. Both players hit over .250 with 20+ home runs, 80+ runs scored, and 80+ RBI. Henderson, in particular, improved as the season went on, hitting .264/.308/.521 with 15 home runs and five steals in the second half of the season. Rutschman and Henderson are expected to be key contributors to the Orioles’ young core as they continue to grow and develop.
The Orioles also made an under-the-radar signing with Ryan O’Hearn, who had a strong season after struggling to live up to his minor league power production. O’Hearn hit .289/.322/.480 with 14 home runs, 60 RBI, and five steals in 368 plate appearances. He helped solidify the middle of the lineup until Ryan Mountcastle returned from the injured list.
Despite their success, the Orioles faced some challenges during the season. The injury to closer Felix Bautista was a significant blow to the bullpen. Bautista had a stellar season, but his placement on the injured list and subsequent Tommy John surgery weakened the bullpen. The Orioles ranked 27th in strikeout rate and 18th in blown saves after Bautista’s injury.
The Orioles also made a trade deadline move to acquire Jack Flaherty, but he struggled in Baltimore, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 34.2 innings. It is unlikely that the Orioles will bring him back for the next season.
In terms of stolen bases, the Orioles ranked just 16th in the league, despite having a team with speed. Cedric Mullins, who had stolen 30 bases in each of the last two seasons, battled injuries and finished with only 19 steals in 116 games. Mullins also saw a dip in performance, slashing .233/.305/.416 with 15 home runs, 51 runs scored, and 74 RBI. The Orioles moved him down in the batting order in the final months of the season.
Overall, the Orioles had a successful season, finishing with over 100 wins and seeing impressive performances from their young players. The future looks bright for the team as they continue to develop and grow together.
In terms of fantasy baseball, there are some key takeaways from the Orioles’ season. Yennier Cano, who had a breakout year as a setup man, may not be a reliable closer option for the team in 2024. John Means’ injury history and decreased fastball velocity make him a risky pick. Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson showed strong performances in the second half of the season and should be valuable fantasy options. Jordan Westburg, while locked into everyday at-bats, may face competition from other talented infield prospects. However, his batting average makes him an attractive fantasy pick.
Overall, the Baltimore Orioles had a successful season and have a promising future ahead.