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Home , Aberdeen IronBirds, Adam Jones (baseball), Alexi Casilla, Andrew Miller (baseball), Brock Huntzinger, Chris Tillman

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Columns:  Thoughts and observations as Orioles head into interleague series against the Cubs The Sun 8/22  Triple-A Norfolk Mike Wright falls one strike short of throwing no-hitter The Sun 8/21  With postseason in sight for Orioles, five things to watch The Sun 8/21  With rotation continuing to go deep in games, Orioles utilizing pieces to perfection in late-inning chess matches The Sun 8/21  Orioles minor league Alex Murphy likely out for season with shoulder injury The Sun 8/21  Surging Orioles set for challenges of stretch run MLB.com 8/21  MLB stars commit to 'All-Star Series' in Japan MLB.com 8/21  Today's game and O'Day's role as bullpen leader MASNsports.com 8/22  Jones will play in Japan in November MASNsports.com 8/21  Mike Wright talks about his near no-hitter (Aberdeen awarded 2015 All-Star Game) MASNsports.com 8/22  Do and Need a Day Off? Press Box Online 8/21  Orioles Minor League Spotlight: Mark Blackmar, Press Box Online 8/21  In Chicago, Orioles Continue Dominance Against Top AL Press Box Online 8/21  David Lough's body shot ESPN.com 8/13  Adam Jones is heading to Japan in November CSN Baltimore 8/21  Orioles playing well into October? Could happen, here's why CSN Baltimore 8/21 http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-thoughts-and-observations-as-orioles-head- into-interleague-series-against-the-cubs-20140821,0,2501541.story Thoughts and observations as Orioles head into interleague series against the Cubs By Eduardo A. Encina / 8:46 a.m. EDT, August 22, 2014

CHICAGO – Sometimes when you’re in the middle of the season, it takes a day off to take a step back and really look at what’s going on.

The Orioles will open their three-game interleague series against the Cubs at Friday leading the American League East by nine games over the and . They are a season-high 21 games over .500 and have the best record in baseball since June 30, going 30-13 in that span.

Now take a step back to June 29, when the Orioles had just dropped three of four to the following a 12-7 loss at Camden Yards. On that Sunday afternoon, the Orioles’ bullpen allowed nine runs, breaking open a 3-3 game. Miguel Gonzalez only went 4 2/3 innings after walking four and allowed three runs on eight hits. Evan Meek and struggled in relief.

At that point, the Orioles were just three games over .500, with a 42-39 record. The rotation was full of question marks and inconsistency. The bullpen was picking up too many innings.

How things have changed. Since June 30, the Orioles pitching staff has a 2.89 ERA, the fourth- best mark in the majors in that span.

When takes the mound Friday night, he will attempt to build on a run of the four straight quality starts since Ubaldo Jimenez allowed six runs over 4 1/3 innings last Saturday in Cleveland.

It’s been a landmark year for the starting rotation. On Wednesday, Wei-Yin Chen won his career-high 13th game. Two days earlier, Bud Norris set a new career-high with his 11th win. Gausman has the opportunity to earn his eighth win. Last year, it took Gausman six appearances – and a move to the bullpen – to get his first victory.

“I think what they’re interested in is doing a win thing for the Orioles,” Orioles manager said. “They’re all trying to contribute and up their end of the bargain and pass the baton the next pitcher, the next bullpen guy, the next starter. … There’s a lot of phases of our team that are capable of picking up something that might have down night.”

A couple of observations from down on the farm:

-- The Orioles' acquisition of has undoubtedly made the club's bullpen better, giving it a lock-down lefty that affects the game with his presence alone.

Miller will undoubtedly play a significant role if the Orioles are able to make a deep run in the postseason -- he owns a that left-handed hitters have nightmares about -- but the trade that brought him to Baltimore won’t be able to be truly evaluated for a while.

Orioles executive vice president admitted it was a tough call to trade left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to the Red Sox in order to acquire Miller.

Rodriguez entered the season as the organization’s third-best prospect, according to , trailing only and Kevin Gausman. But Rodriguez went 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA at -A Bowie, struggling to get back to form physically after a knee injury.

Since the trade, Rodriguez has shown the stuff that made him one of the Orioles’ top prospects. He threw seven innings for the Red Sox’s Double-A team in Portland, Maine, on Thursday night.

He is 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA in four starts since the trade and has allowed just two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings. He’s also allowed just 18 hits, walked six and struck out 28 batters.

-- Triple-A right-hander Mike Wright struggled this season to build on his breakout 2013 at the Double-A level. He’s just 5-11 with a 4.83 ERA on the year, but he’s finishing his season out very well.

Wright, who was one strike away from throwing a no-hitter Thursday, lost nine of his first 10 decisions this season, but has held the opposition to two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts. He’s also gone seven or more innings in four of his last six starts.

What’s been the key? A big part of it has to be improved command. Over his first 19 starts, Wright had a -to-walk ratio of 2.0 (66 , 33 walks). But over his last six outings, he’s posted 30 strikeouts and just five walks (a 6.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio).

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-triplea-norfolk-pitcher-mike-wright-falls- one-strike-short-of-pitching-nohitter-20140821,0,1461437.story Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Mike Wright falls one strike short of throwing no-hitter By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun 10:11 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2014

Orioles pitching prospect Mike Wright was one strike away from throwing a no-hitter for Triple- A Norfolk on Thursday night in a 5-2 win over the .

Wright came as close as possible to tossing a no-hitter, allowing a two-out double to Mike Mahtook on a 1-2 count in the ninth inning.

Earlier in the inning, Alexi Casilla committed a throwing with two outs on a play that could have ended the game.

After allowing the double to Mahtook – which also ended Wright’s shutout bid – he was replaced by right-hander Brock Huntzinger. Wright threw 121 pitches, striking out 11 batters – both season highs.

He was charged with another run following a wild pitch by Huntzinger, but both runs were unearned because of the error on Casilla.

Over 8 2/3 innings, Wright allowed five baserunners: three walks, one and one error.

Wright was named the Orioles’ eighth-best prospect by Baseball America before the season, but has struggled this season, going 5-11 with a 4.83 ERA in 2014.

He opened the season losing nine of his first 10 decisions, but has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last six starts and has gone seven or more innings in four of his last six outings.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-with-postseason-in-sight-for-orioles-five- things-to-watch-closely-pictures,0,7099298.photogallery With postseason in sight for Orioles, five things to watch

The Baltimore Sun

The Orioles hold a nine-game lead in the American League East with 37 games remaining in the regular season, but what do they need to do with a little more than five weeks to go before the start of the playoffs?

Preparing for the postseason

For baseball fans, there's only a little more than five weeks left in the regular season. For manager Buck Showalter and his players, there's still a little more than five weeks left in the regular season.

While the Orioles started preparing for the postseason this week by sending out playoff ticket invoices to season-ticket holders, Showalter refuses to entertain such notions.

When asked a question earlier this week that included the word "playoffs," Showalter's eyes bulged momentarily until he realized it was a query about the minor league system. Orioles players also see the club's likely postseason future, but they aren't looking too far ahead with 37 games remaining in the regular season.

"Of course, everyone on this team wants to play in the playoffs," said left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, through interpreter Louis Chao, after Wednesday's 4-3 win over the . "But right now it's still the regular season, so we just try to do our jobs and win every game."

The Orioles (73-52) enter Friday with a season-high nine-game lead over the New York Yankees (64-61) and the Toronto Blue Jays (65-62) in the American League East. Barring a massive collapse, the club likely will advance to the postseason for the second time in three years.

The bottom line is that Showalter is focused on the rest of this season and trying to win each and every game to get the Orioles to the playoffs. He'll start fixating on the postseason when it's a certainty that his club is getting there.

Thankfully, we're not limited by such constraints. With a healthy lead in the AL East and two wild-card spots available, the Orioles are probably as good of a bet to play in October as any team in baseball.

And what happens between now and then will give us a sense of just how competitive the Orioles can be when baseball's second season begins after Sept. 29. Here are the five people or situations that need to be monitored the closest over the next few weeks.

Manny Machado

Simply put, Machado makes this team better when he is healthy and playing every day.

He's the club's best defender, a true difference-maker who saves potential runs nearly every game that he is on the field. And in the postseason, when runs will be at a premium, stellar defense can shift the momentum of a short series.

Machado also strengthens the club's starting lineup. Sandwiched between Nick Markakis and Adam Jones, he gives the Orioles a tough cadre of hitters to lead off a game. He also is a big offensive upgrade over or any other player who would replace him in the lineup.

But the catch here is that Machado needs to be healthy -- which means the next few weeks are exceptionally critical as he battles back from a sprained right knee ligament that he sustained Aug. 11.

Showalter hopes that Machado will be able to go on an injury rehabilitation assignment at some point next week. That would give him three weeks or so with the major league club before the postseason begins.

And, frankly, that time may be needed.

It took Machado a while to trust his surgically repaired left knee this season, especially defensively. He was tentative for a couple weeks before looking like the AL Platinum Glove winner everyone expects. So it likely would be beneficial for Machado to play a chunk of games at the major league level before the playoffs.

But the Orioles have been coy with the specifics of Machado's injury, never revealing the grade of his knee sprain or the ligament affected. There has been no true projected recovery time for the injury.

And that's likely by design, because bringing up timetables publicly can interfere with the recovery process, especially if it staggers like Machado's rehab from his left knee surgery in the offseason.

Earlier this week, Machado said he hadn't seen any significant progress in the knee despite daily treatment and strengthening exercises, but he hoped it would come soon.

Starting rotation

Unless the Orioles go down to the wire in their pennant push, chances are Showalter will be able to set his rotation for the first playoff series.

It would be a surprise if right-hander were not on the mound for the club's first game. He was the Orioles' best pitcher and has maintained that consistency, for the most part, this year.

You'd also have to think Wei-Yin Chen, the club's only left-hander in the rotation, would start one of the first playoff games. At this point, right-hander Bud Norris seems like a logical fit for one of the three top spots in the playoff rotation, though Showalter is a big believer in matchups based on past performances against a certain team or in a specific venue.

Norris, for instance, has struggled against the and the in the past, but he has excelled against the , the Toronto Blue Jays and the .

The wild card here is rookie right-hander Kevin Gausman, pictured, who may have more talent than any of his rotation mates, but he is still learning to pitch at the major league level. He could excel in the postseason, like the St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Wacha did last year. And that would provide a huge lift for the Orioles.

But the club also could put him in the bullpen and use him as a long reliever if one of their other starters runs into trouble. If Gausman continues to grow as a pitcher in the next month, it would be difficult to leave his talented arm off the postseason roster.

Miguel Gonzalez can fill several roles as well, and he's not going to be overwhelmed by the playoff atmosphere -- he pitched a gem against the New York Yankees in his lone postseason start in 2012. So he can't be discounted at this point.

The Orioles have some pretty good options for a truncated rotation, and how these guys pitch down the stretch likely will be a major factor in who gets the ball in October.

Chris Davis

No matter what he does for the next few weeks, if Davis is healthy, he'll start games in the postseason. Even when he is struggling mightily at the plate, there are few Orioles who have a similar presence as a hitter no matter where he is in the lineup.

That being said, Davis does lead the AL with 150 strikeouts, and his .192 batting average entering Friday is the lowest among 146 major league players with at least 400 plate appearance this season. Still, Davis entered Thursday among the top 25 hitters in the AL in terms of home runs (21, 13th) and RBIs (60, 23rd).

And when he is on, he is one of the more fearsome sluggers in the game.

Obviously, he hasn't been on much this year. Pitchers have discovered how to get him out. They've pounded him inside with that he has swung through and mixed in breaking balls off the plate that he has hit into the ground on the right side.

He was so effective last year at staying on pitches and smashing them the other way; he has had trouble recreating that this year.

Some fans have been clamoring for Davis to sit more while or receive additional at-bats. But, frankly, Davis needs to play as much as possible through September.

And with Machado out, it's necessary for Davis to be in the mix at third base while Pearce plays first base. Most importantly, as much as he has worked in the batting cages throughout the past five months, there is no substitute for major league pitching.

The one major concern with Davis this postseason is that he has become an all-or-nothing hitter for much of this season: Homering fairly often and striking out a ton.

The Orioles will face elite pitching in the playoffs, and they need to get runners on base and make productive outs in an attempt to manufacture runs. That was a struggle in the Orioles' five- game loss to the Yankees in the AL Division Series two years ago.

It sure would boost the club's confidence and Davis' if he could once again demonstrate a consistent ability to do those things.

Bullpen alignment

Unless there are injuries, the Orioles have five relievers who have to be considered near locks for the postseason: left-handers Zach Britton and Andrew Miller, and right-handers Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter and Brad Brach. There also will be a starter or two relegated to the bullpen for the postseason.

So that means the Orioles probably have three or four more relief spots to consider.

Left-handers T.J. McFarland and Brian Matusz will be in the mix as will several right-handers in the minor leagues who have contributed this season, such as Ryan Webb, Evan Meek, pictured, and .

Veteran left-hander Joe Saunders also could pitch his way into a role with a great September. Showalter is extremely high on Saunders, and the team offered him an opportunity to pitch in relief in the offseason before he was offered an opportunity to start.

Saunders, who was the winning pitcher in the Orioles' 2012 wild-card game win on the road against the , now can give them multiple innings in relief. He will get a chance to show what he can do when rosters expand Sept. 1.

Miller, who was acquired in a July 31 trade with the , has been a valuable lockdown left-hander and is a perfect complement to right-handed late-inning pitchers O'Day and Hunter.

Brach's emergence has been remarkable because he can give the Orioles a long-relief option or protect the other bullpen pieces with his ability to account for multiple innings. Britton has saved 27 of 30 games this year, and he is entrenched in the 's role. He has converted his last 12 opportunities.

Keeping the bullpen healthy is always a priority for Showalter, and continuing to get deep starts from the rotation allows him to maintain that. And since the club can change its postseason roster after every series, expect Showalter to play matchups when selecting his bullpen pieces.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Jimenez is by far the highest-paid pitcher on the Orioles' staff. And, at this point, it would be a shock if he pitched in October for the club after being relegated to the bullpen Tuesday.

After signing a four-year, $50 million deal in February, Jimenez has struggled through this season, unable to maintain any consistency. And the Orioles are only 7-13 in games that he has started this year.

Showalter said he won't hesitate to use Jimenez in relief if the situation presents itself. But the fact that Jimenez hasn't pitched out of the bullpen since his major league debut, as well as his control issues (he leads the AL with 66 walks), would suggest that he won't be used in any high- pressure situations.

The bigger question now is what comes of Jimenez once rosters expand. There are other relievers who will be called up in September -- Webb, Meek and Guilmet -- who likely would play bigger roles than Jimenez. And bullpen spots will be at a premium in the postseason. Some relievers could end up going to Sarasota, Fla., to work out in case they're needed in the playoffs.

So there aren't many innings available for Jimenez to work out his problems on the mound. Jimenez admitted Wednesday that he didn't believe he'd be used very often this week, so he could end up being buried even further in September. Despite his struggles, Jimenez has been a tremendous teammate and is a veteran presence in the clubhouse, especially among Latin players.

And even though he doesn't figure to be in the Orioles' postseason plans, he is signed for three more years. So one would think the club would want him to go into the offseason with something on which to build.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-with-rotation-continuing-to-go-deep-in- games-orioles-utilizing-bullpen-pieces-to-perfection-in-latei-20140821,0,7567273.story With rotation continuing to go deep in games, Orioles utilizing bullpen pieces to perfection in late-inning chess matches By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun 10:17 a.m. EDT, August 21, 2014

CHICAGO – The first half of the Orioles’ six-game, weeklong trip to Chicago was a success in more ways than one.

They beat up on the floundering Chicago White Sox, sweeping the three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Fate shined down on the Orioles, but that seems to happen when you’re playing as well as this team’s playing. On Tuesday, while the waited through a four-hour rain delay at Wrigley Field, not a drop fell on the city's South Side, even though the ballparks are less than 10 miles apart.

While the Orioles have a day off in Chicago, not only will the Cubs play a regularly scheduled night game against the , but they'll complete Tuesday’s postponed game before it.

The Cubs will have to account for at least four additional innings in the completion of Tuesday’s game, so that could have an effect on this weekend’s series against the Orioles at Wrigley Field.

If former Orioles right-hander goes deep into the game Friday – he’s gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts – the Cubs won’t have to worry as much.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was able to pick-and-choose how he used his bullpen against the White Sox this week mainly because he has received at least seven innings from his starters in each of the past three games.

It has even allowed him to use some relievers as decoys late in the game.

Showalter doesn’t like to get his relievers up unless there’s a good chance they’ll get in the game. He rarely warms up two pitchers at the same time and doesn’t like to get a reliever up more than once.

He did get left-hander Andrew Miller up in the eighth inning of the Orioles’ 4-3 win Wednesday when it didn’t seem to be a spot for him in the game. Darren O’Day was in the game – entering with two on and one out for starter Wei-Yin Chen – and there wasn’t another left-handed hitter for several batters.

But Showalter believed that just getting Miller – who holds lefties to a .147 average – throwing in that situation might make the White Sox think twice about pinch-hitting left-handed hitters Adam Dunn and Jordan Danks. He was thinking two steps ahead.

“I wanted to make sure they didn’t do anything with Dunn and Danks, so having Andrew there, it was almost like it impacted the game,” Showalter said. "I’m not going to tell if I was going to take Darren out, but I like them both against left or right.”

Once O’Day got through the inning, stranding two inherited base runners in a one-run game, closer Zach Britton immediately started warming and came in for the ninth, and he recorded his 27th save in 30 opportunities.

It was the second time this series that Miller warmed up but wasn’t used. He got up when Bud Norris was in trouble in the seventh inning Monday, but once Norris escaped, Showalter turned to right-hander Brad Brach to close out the game with a two-inning stint, saving the rest of the bullpen from the night.

O’Day continues to have a tremendous season and could have been credited with getting the most important two outs of the game. With the Orioles clinging to a 4-3 lead and two on with one out, he struck out Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia, arguably the White Sox’s two most dangerous hitters.

O’Day has allowed just one run over his last 24 appearances and has stranded 25 of 31 inherited runners this season.

“Actually, I didn’t feel that good tonight,” O’Day said. “Sometimes, that’s when you pitch better. But it’s late in the season. At this point in the season, everybody’s got little things that are nagging them. In terms of pitching, we’ve got a good thing going down there. This is the most complete bullpen I’ve ever been a part of. It’s a fun time right now to be down there.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-minor-league-catcher-and-calvert- hall-product-alex-murphy-likely-out-for-season-with-shoulde-20140821,0,3811075.story Orioles minor league catcher Alex Murphy likely out for season with shoulder injury Calvert Hall graduate, who was playing for Aberdeen, diagnosed with left shoulder subluxation By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun 5:38 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2014

CHICAGO -- Orioles minor league catcher Alex Murphy suffered an injury to his left shoulder over the weekend that likely will end his season at short-season Single-A Aberdeen.

Murphy, a Calvert Hall graduate, has been diagnosed with a left shoulder subluxation. He suffered the injury to his non-throwing shoulder while diving into second base on a pickoff play Friday. He left that game and hasn’t played since.

An MRI was performed on the shoulder this week, and player development director Brian Graham said it showed “some minor changes.” The MRI is still being evaluated by team doctors, Graham said.

Graham said the injury isn’t believed to be major, but it likely will keep Murphy from playing again this year. The IronBirds’ final game is Sept. 1 against Hudson Valley at Ripken Stadium.

Murphy, the Orioles’ sixth-round pick last season, was hitting .277 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 54 games with Aberdeen this season. He also was 3-for-15 (.200) with one double and one RBI in four games for Low-A Delmarva earlier this year.

“He was really doing well,” Graham said. “Offensively, he was competing extremely well. His catching had improved. You’re talking about a 19-year-old player out of high school hitting in the middle of the lineup at Aberdeen.

“Aberdeen is usually a level for players out of college, and he’s hitting in the middle of the lineup there.”

NOTES: An MRI on Double-A Bowie left-hander Tim Berry’s throwing shoulder was clean, and the Orioles expect him to miss just one start with shoulder tendinitis. … Right-hander , the Orioles’ fifth-round pick in June out of Tennessee Tech, was promoted from Aberdeen to Delmarva. Hess, 21, was 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA in eight games (five starts) at Aberdeen. … Hess took the roster spot of left-hander Steven Brault, who was promoted to High-A Frederick. Brault, an 11th-round pick last season, was 9-8 with a 3.05 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) at Delmarva.

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/bal/surging-orioles-set-for-challenges-of-stretch- run?ymd=20140821&content_id=90707266&vkey=news_bal Surging Orioles set for challenges of stretch run Rotation's continued success, Machado's return keys for Baltimore in pennant race By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com 8/21/2014 10:00 A.M. ET

CHICAGO -- The Orioles, winners in nine of their past 10 series, have their largest lead -- nine games -- in the American League East since 1997, and they are playing some of their best baseball down the stretch. You know things are going well when manager Buck Showalter admits he's got a little bit of a "man crush" on his club, which enters Thursday's off-day with an AL-leading 39 road wins.

So what's going exactly? And how did the O's get here? Let's take a closer look at some of the questions, numbers and overall chatter surrounding first-place Baltimore...

Three questions down the stretch

1. How will the red-hot rotation fare?

It's no secret that the Orioles' surge has been fueled by its pitching, a group that stands to get better with right-hander Miguel Gonzalez taking the spot of struggling right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who was demoted to the bullpen. starter Chris Tillman has pitched to a 2.23 ERA in his past 12 starts; Wei-Yin Chen is having a fantastic second half, along with righty Bud Norris; and 23-year-old Kevin Gausman is finding ways to get the job done despite pitching deeper into the year than ever before.

"You can't say enough about them," catcher Nick Hundley said of a group of starters who have posted a 2.82 ERA over their past 17 road games. "Our offense gets more publicity, but there's no way we'd be in this spot if we didn't get quality start after quality start from all five, six of our guys. So it's been really impressive since I've been here. I've been really impressed with the quality and depth of the rotation."

That rotation has set up one of the most lethal back-end in baseball in Darren O'Day, closer Zach Britton and newly acquired Andrew Miller. If the O's can keep getting consistent outings from the rotation, it will ensure their 'pen stays fresh and effective when they need it most.

Food for thought: Pitching Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti are really thought of as co-pitching coaches. And while their contributions don't show up in the box score, the pitchers will gladly rave about what the duo has accomplished.

"This team had a lot of talent going into the year, and the co-pitching coaches have helped get the most out of everybody," O'Day said. "Everybody is pitching up to their capability now, instead of -- I don't want to stay wasting talent, but we've had a lot of guys step up this year."

2. When will return?

The Orioles haven't exactly been forthcoming about Machado, who suffered a sprain right knee ligament and has been on the disabled list for about a week. Showalter said initially he felt good about Machado coming back the first day he's eligible to be activated from the 15-day DL, although Machado indicated he wouldn't rush things and would only come back when he could "be Manny Machado" again.

The 22-year-old Machado has been with the Orioles on their road trip, and he is focusing on strengthening the area around his knee first. In a perfect world, the O's will send Machado out to get some at-bats at an affiliate on Monday when they return to Baltimore, although there won't be any rush with September callups around the corner.

Food for thought: Roster expansion aside, the Orioles have actually fared quite well without Machado this season, going 26-17. After a losing April, they won four of the five games he was suspended and have had a fantastic August, with filling in quite well at third. Are they a better team without Machado? Of course not. But the O's, who have been without most of the season, are a resilient group that doesn't rely on just one or two guys.

3. Will the offense be consistent?

There's no way to predict how the rest of this season will go for a homer-happy Orioles lineup that's also strikeout prone. To be fair, the O's have faced some tough pitching on their current road trip, including Cleveland's Corey Kluber and Chicago's Chris Sale, two pitchers likely to be in the AL race. Yes, their lineup has gone into slumps. But having a group that's hit a Major League-leading 161 homers is the kind of scary lineup that most clubs would kill for, and the Orioles have done a good job of not letting a bad few games snowball.

And that's without Davis hitting up to his capabilities. If they can find a way to get Davis hot, the O's offense could go a long ways in taking some pressure off the pitching staff.

Food for thought: Yes, they've been inconsistent at times, but the Orioles have gone 72 consecutive games without a three-game losing streak.

"You look at the veterans in here -- guys like Jones, [Nick] Markakis, [J.J.] Hardy and [Matt] Wieters, even though he's hurt, he's still a leader," Britton said of the club's even-keeled approach. "As a younger guy, we all watch how they react, and they never seem to let anything bother them."

Critical stats

2.87: The O's team ERA since June 30, a span in which they have the best record in baseball (31- 13).

48-10:The team's record when scoring first, which is the best in the Majors. The Os are also 62- 25 when they hit at least one .

Summing it up: "First and foremost what everyone kept talking about is, 'Our pitching staff couldn't. And can't.' That was what everyone said across the whole board, the league, across the power rankings. [They said that] we can hit, we can play defense, but we can't pitch," Jones said. "We are doing something that we knew as a ballclub we could do. If you have confidence in yourself and have confidence in your fellow teammates, it works wonders in how things can work out in your favor. We've just been a collective group of things happening."

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/bal/mlb-stars-commit-to-all-star-series-in- japan?ymd=20140821&content_id=90726626&vkey=news_bal MLB stars commit to 'All-Star Series' in Japan Cano, Jones, Pujols, Puig, Washington will participate in five-game exhibition set By Paul Casella / MLB.com 8/21/2014 12:25 P.M. ET

For some of 's best players, the games won't end in October this year.

All-Stars Robinson Cano, Adam Jones, and Yasiel Puig will highlight a group of Major Leaguers, led by Rangers manager , who will travel to Japan in November to take part in a five-game All-Star Series against Japan's national team, Samurai Japan. The rest of the Major League All-Star roster will be announced at a later date.

The "All-Star Series 2014" marks the 11th such All-Star Series, though it's the first since 2006. It will be the 36th time overall, dating back to 1908, that a team of big leaguers has traveled to Japan for exhibition games.

The five-game format that will be used this fall was first introduced during that last All-Star Series in 2006, which was swept by a Major League team that included All-Stars such as Bronson Arroyo, Ryan Howard, John Lackey, , , Jose Reyes, and Chase Utley.

The All-Star Series will feature three games in Tokyo (Nov. 14-16), bookended by one game each in Osaka (Nov. 12) and Sapporo (Nov. 18). In addition to the five-game All-Star Series, the Major League team will also participate in a pair of exhibition games -- one on Nov. 11 against the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants in Koshien and the other on Nov. 20 versus Team Japan in Okinawa.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2014/08/todays-game-and-odays-role-as-bullpen- leader.html Today's game and O'Day's role as bullpen leader By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com August 22, 2014 6:14 AM

CHICAGO - Anyone else find it ironic or interesting or coincidental that the Cubs-Giants suspended game yesterday was delayed by rain?

Anyone?

Apparently, it can rain simultaneously on the north and south sides. This is coming from a guy who didn't bring an umbrella to Chicago.

The Orioles swept the White Sox and now they're playing the Cubs in their second-ever visit to Wrigley Field. They won two of three in 2008, taking the decisive game 11-4 behind a 4-for-5 day from and three hits from Guillermo Quiroz.

The man makes a mean sub. And the Cubs were toasted.

(Sorry)

The Orioles have never faced Jake Arrieta, but five of their batters are a combined 6-for-17 against him. is 3-for-7, Chris Davis is 2-for-2, Nick Hundley is 1-for-4, Delmon Young is 0-for-3 and Steve Pearce is 0-for-1.

None of the Cubs have faced Kevin Gausman, who's going for his eighth win this afternoon. Guasman has allowed three earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, though he's failed to complete six innings in five of his last nine outings.

In yesterday morning's blog entry, I wrote about reliever Andrew Miller feeling right at home with the Orioles since the first day that he arrived from Boston. I asked bullpen coach Dom Chiti about Miller's smooth transition, and he immediately credited Darren O'Day.

"A big part of our bullpen is Darren O'Day," Chiti said. "He's a tremendous person and a tremendous leader. Everybody we have out there has tremendous character and we all want to be greater than the sum of the parts, and I think that's a big part of it.

"We all want the same thing. We all want to do our little part to help the team win. And I think all the guys in the bullpen have embraced that. But if you want to give somebody some credit, it's Darren. Darren's like the unofficial leader. The official leader. Whatever you want to call it. And I think that's huge."

O'Day calls upon his experiences as the new guy.

"This is my fourth team now and every team I've gone to, there's been one guy who's tried to help me kind of transition," he said. "It's a hard thing to do in-season and I think that's why a lot of guys who get traded struggle, because they don't feel comfortable in their surroundings. So, if myself or another teammate can do anything to make these guys feel welcome, we'll do it. "Especially him being in the bullpen. We spend a lot more time with him, as opposed to a hitter being traded over here. My impact on him might be a little more limited. But yeah, Andrew's been great. He's fit in awesome. He fits in with all the inside jokes already. He's been a great addition."

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2014/08/jones-will-play-in-japan-in-november.html Jones will play in Japan in November By Roch Kubatko / MASNsports.com August 21, 2014 12:47 PM

CHICAGO - Orioles Adam Jones has been included among a group of major league players who will travel to Japan in November to participate in a five-game series.

The MLB All-Stars will play Samurai Japan, the country's national team. The Rangers' Ron Washington will serve as manager.

Jones will be joined by the Mariners' Robinson Cano, the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig and the Angels' Albert Pujols.

I'm assuming that other names will be released later. Otherwise, it doesn't seem fair.

According to an MLB press release, All-Star Series games will be hosted in Osaka (Kyocera Dome), Tokyo (Tokyo Dome) and Sapporo (Sapporo Dome). Two exhibition games will complement the five-game series, with one game in Osaka (Koshien Stadium) and the other in Okinawa (Okinawa Cellular Stadium).

The 2014 renewal of the event will mark the 11th All-Star Series and the 36th time overall that a team of major leaguers has toured Japan for exhibition games dating to 1908. The current five- game format was implemented in 2006, which was the last time the MLB All-Stars faced off against the Japan All-Stars.

Jones went 3-for-4 with his 24th home run last night. He's 8-for-17 with a double, home run, two RBIs and four runs scored in his last four games. http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2014/08/mike-wright-talks-about-his-near-no-hitter- and-aberdeen-is-awarded-the-all-star-game.html Mike Wright talks about his near no-hitter (Aberdeen awarded 2015 All-Star Game) Steve Melewski / MASNsports.com August 22, 2014 12:38 AM

For Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Mike Wright, this year started slow but sure is finishing strong. That strong finish put him on the verge of history last night when he lost a no-hitter with two outs in the last of the ninth at Durham. Wright went a career-high 8 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and two unearned runs with three walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts as the Tides won 5-2. He threw 121 pitches, 78 for strikes.

"Honestly, I had pretty much everything working tonight," Wright said by phone last night from Durham. "My slider, I wasn't really throwing it for strikes very much, but my was good. When I needed my slider to be there, it was. So everything all night was pretty good. "It was definitely a fantastic outing. My career-high before today was 7 2/3, so to go into the ninth was big because that's the kind of pitcher I want to be. It was a really good experience and great to have this outing to finish this last stretch of the season."

A 24-year-old right-hander, Wright was trying to become the third pitcher to throw a nine- inning, no-hitter in Norfolk franchise history. Dave Telgheder did that against Pawtucket on May 15, 1992 and Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman pitched a no-hitter at Gwinnett on April 28, 2010. The Tides have had four seven-inning no-hitters in franchise history, most recently by Steve Trachsel in a rehab outing on May 29, 2001 against Ottawa.

Wright took the mound in the last of the ninth with Norfolk leading 5-0 and walked Hak-Ju Lee before getting the next two batters out. Then Cole Figueroa hit a grounder to short that could've ended the game, but Alexi Casilla's throw was off the mark for an error that left runners on first and second.

Wright said Casilla said he was sorry for making that error.

"He felt awful, but that is a tough play," Wright said. "He was playing far back. You don't want to give up the ground ball in the hole. The guy just kind of check-swung and didn't hit it well, but Alexi was giving it his all, busting it with 100 percent effort."

Mikie Mahtook, who is batting .295, then lined an RBI double off the right-field wall to end the no-hit and shutout bid. It also ended Wright's outing as Brock Huntzinger came on. For Wright, there was no second-guessing the 1-2 pitch that ended his no-hit bid.

"He hit the exact pitch I wanted to throw," Wright said. "I struck him out the at-bat before with a low-and-away changeup. All night he hadn't been biting on the slider. Me and Clevy (catcher Steve Clevenger) were on the same page. He called up and I threw it there and he is a fantastic hitter and put a good swing on it. If I could go back, I would throw the exact same pitch in the same spot."

Wright said the most pitches he had thrown as a pro before last night was around 110. He said the game featured several good defensive plays behind him as Casilla, Christian Walker and center fielder Julio Borbon all made good plays.

Wright had taken a no-hitter into the fifth in his previous start and said he began to think about pitching one last night in the sixth.

"When I really felt the pressure was in that ninth inning," he said. "I knew my pitch count was a little higher. Knew I only had to get three outs and I would say I felt the pressure pretty good there in the ninth inning."

Rated the O's No. 8 prospect last winter by Baseball America, Wright is 5-11 with a 4.83 ERA in 25 starts over 136 innings for Norfolk. He was 1-8 with an ERA of 6.15 at the All-Star break. But he is 4-2 with an ERA of 1.11 over his last six starts. In his last 40 2/3 innings, he has walked five and fanned 30. Wright has not allowed an over his past two starts. He has given up just one earned run in 23 innings, for an ERA of 0.39 over his last three starts.

"I've just been trying to relax," he said of his recent run of solid starts. "Even tonight, as the game pressed on, the more intense and the better I wanted to do, I had to make myself relax and pitch the way I can. That was one of the things at the beginning of the year where I didn't do too well. I wanted to do so well, so badly. Now I am just letting the game come to me."

Wright won the Award in 2013 as the O's Pitcher of the Year in the minor leagues. He went 11-3 with a 3.26 ERA at Double-A Bowie before he pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Norfolk in his Triple-A debut to end his year.

Wright's big finish to this season is important for him, as he must be protected by the Orioles for the first time in advance of the December . He needs to be added to the 40-man roster, and he likely will be, to avoid being eligible for that draft.

Aberdeen to host All-Star game: In addition to Wright's big night, the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds announced Thursday night that they will be hosting the 2015 New-York Penn League Al-Star Game.

The exact date has not been announced. This will be the second time Ripken Stadium has hosted the game. In 2006, the game drew over 6,900 fans in Aberdeen.

"The Aberdeen IronBirds and Ripken Baseball are thrilled to have the best and brightest in the New York-Penn League come to Ripken Stadium next summer and play baseball the Ripken Way," said IronBirds general manager Joe Harrington.

Additional events and activities surrounding the 2015 NYPL All-Star Game will be announced in the coming months and will be available through the IronBirds' official website, www.ironbirdsbaseball.com.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2014/08/21/do-adam-jones-and-nick-markakis-need-a-day-off Do Adam Jones and Nick Markakis Need a Day Off? By Stan 'The Fan' Charles / Press Box Online Posted on August 21, 2014

So far this season, the have played 125 games. And guess what? Adam Jones and Nick Markakis have started every single one of them.

While there's no doubt Jones and Markakis want to be penciled in the lineup card every day, it does raise the question, is too much of a good thing really a good thing for the Orioles' chances of playing deep into the postseason?

Last year, the Orioles ran out of talent when they came up short in the wild card hunt, but they also may have run out of gas. Both Jones and Markakis played in 160 of the team's 162 games, as did first baseman Chris Davis, shortstop J.J. Hardy (159), third baseman Manny Machado (156) and catcher Matt Wieters (148). Machado was on pace to play in all 162 had he not missed the final six games after his gruesome knee injury Sept. 23, 2013 against Tampa Bay.

The Orioles' offseason addition of key bench players, such as David Lough and Delmon Young, seemed to signal Orioles vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter were taking steps to lessen the load on Baltimore's core players.

But three quarters of the way through the season, that isn't exactly how things have played out. Injuries to Davis, Hardy, Machado and Wieters took the fatigue factor out of the equation for many of the regulars, and also diverted attention away from the fact that Jones and Markakis were still standing every day.

Jones and Markakis have gotten the occasional break from the outfield grind, with Jones serving as the three games, and Markakis five, but there's a difference between not playing the field and not playing at all.

While neither player has shown any signs of running out of gas and maybe the occasional game at DH is enough for them to recharge, the old adage of what goes up must come down rings true in performance.

The Orioles have gotten production up and down the lineup this season, buoyed by the addition of /DH Nelson Cruz and the surprisingly productive quartet of catcher , DH Steve Pearce, and Young. That in and of itself seems like it would have given Showalter the comfort level he needs to give his two key outfielders an occasional rest.

But Showalter knows his players better than anyone, and perhaps the success of these other bats has given Jones and Markakis a mental rest by taking some of the load off their backs.

If the Orioles can sustain their sizeable lead in the AL East during the next two weeks, I wouldn't be surprised to see Showalter give Jones and Markakis a true day off here and there in September.

But one thing is for sure, once the calendar turns to October, Showalter will have those two penciled in the lineup each and every day.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2014/08/21/orioles-minor-league-spotlight-mark-blackmar- tyler-wilson Orioles Minor League Spotlight: Mark Blackmar, Tyler Wilson By Nate Harold / Press Box Online Posted on August 21, 2014

PressBox highlights some of the top players in the Orioles' minor league system during the past week.

Mark Blackmar, Pitcher, Single-A Advanced Frederick Blackmar's consistency and ability to work many innings have been the key factors to his sustained success in 2014. During his most recent start Aug. 17, he tossed seven scoreless frames, allowing five hits while walking none and striking out three during a 7-2 win against Lynchburg. Blackmar's eight wins are tied for the most among Keys pitchers, while his 3.02 ERA leads the starting staff.

Tyler Wilson, Pitcher, Triple-A Norfolk

After performing well at Bowie, Wilson has raised his game to another level since being promoted to Norfolk, and is now racking up strikeouts. During a 2-0 win against Gwinnett Aug. 16, Wilson pitched seven shutout innings, conceding four hits, no walks and striking out seven. He now owns a 3-1 record and a 2.96 ERA during nine starts with the Tides.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/2014/08/21/in-chicago-orioles-continue-dominance-against-top- al-pitchers In Chicago, Orioles Continue Dominance Against Top AL Pitchers By Justin Silberman / Press Box Online Posted on August 21, 2014

The Baltimore Orioles swept their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox Aug. 18-20, improving to 21 games better than .500 for the season and extending their lead in the American League East to nine games.

The Orioles were able to pull off the sweep against some tough White Sox pitching.

The Orioles entered the series opener at Comiskey Park with a record of 9-5 against starters with ERAs that rank in the top 10 in the AL. The Birds quickly improved that mark to 10-5 thanks to their performance against Chicago ace Chris Sale, who entered the Aug. 18 contest with the second best ERA in the AL (2.01).

Like the Birds have done for much of the season, they used the long ball to hammer out an 8-2 victory, handing the 6-foot-6, 180-pound Sale his third loss of the season. All told, the O's got to Sale for three runs on eight hits, two walks and eight strikeouts in six innings.

It is the Orioles' ability to find ways to win games started by top-of-the-rotation pitchers that could help make them a contender.

Here is the breakdown of how the 2014 Orioles have fared against the top 10 starters in the AL, ranked in order by ERA:

• Felix Hernandez, 1.99 ERA. The Orioles are 1-0 in games started by Hernandez.

• Sale, 2.12 ERA. The Orioles are 2-0 in games started by Sale.

• Corey Kluber, 2.41 ERA. The Orioles are 0-2 in games started by Kluber.

• Masahiro Tanaka, 2.51 ERA. The Orioles are 2-0 in games started by Tanaka.

• , 2.57 ERA. The Orioles are 2-0 in games started by Iwakuma.

• , 2.58 ERA. The Orioles are 1-1 in games started by Lester.

• Garrett Richards, 2.61 ERA. The Orioles are 1-0 in games started by Richards.

• , 2.73 ERA. The Orioles are 0-1 in games started by Kazmir.

• Sonny Gray, 2.99 ERA. The Orioles are 1-1 in games started by Gray.

• Yu Darvish, 3.06 ERA. The Orioles have not faced Darvish this year.

A few of these matchups against the league's top pitchers stand out for different reasons.

March 31 vs. Lester and the Boston Red Sox: Orioles win, 2-1

On Opening Day, the Orioles got the ball rolling by using timely hitting to defeat then-Red Sox ace Lester and the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox, 2-1. With the Birds and Red Sox deadlocked in a 1-1 tie during the bottom of the seventh, Nelson Cruz celebrated his Orioles debut by lining a solo home run into the left-field seats to break the tie and put the Orioles up for good en route to their 2-1 victory.

April 9 vs. Tanaka and the New York Yankees: Orioles win, 5-4

Although Tanaka did not get the loss during the Birds' 5-4 victory, they did get to the Japanese right-hander for a then-season-high three earned runs during seven innings at . All three of the Birds' runs came off the bat of rookie second baseman Jonathan Schoop during the top of the second, when he delivered a two-out, three-run homer to give the O's an early 3-0 advantage. After the Yankees rallied with two runs during the bottom of the second, and tacked on a run during the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, 3-3, the Orioles got to Yankees right- handed reliever Shawn Kelly. During the top of the ninth, the O's scored two runs on four hits before then-closer Tommy Hunter slammed the door.

July 24 vs. Iwakuma and the : Orioles win, 4-0

During the opening game of their four-game set in Seattle, Delmon Young delivered the big blow with a three-run home run during the Orioles' four-run third inning rally off Iwakuma. Nick Markakis started the scoring after he singled to right field to score Ryan Flaherty. Iwakuma followed that up with four consecutive innings before departing.

July 30 vs. Richards and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Orioles win, 4-3

The Orioles wasted no time getting to Richards during the bottom of the first, scoring a pair of runs on an Adam Jones two-run homer to give the Birds a 2-0 lead. Then, David Lough and Ryan Flaherty delivered back-to-back two-out hits during the bottom of the fourth to plate two runs and give the Orioles all the runs they would need during a 4-3 win against the Angels. Since that loss, the Angels have won each of Richards' last three starts.

But to get to the World Series, the O's can't look ahead. They must have the same approach and discipline at the plate against the top starting pitchers for the final six weeks of the regular season to help them clinch their first division title since going wire-to-wire during the 1997 season.

For now, Baltimore will look to make it five straight wins when it continues its Chicago tour. The Orioles travel to the city's North Side to take on the Cubs for a three-game series from Aug. 22-24. It marks the second time Orioles will play a series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in franchise history, with the first coming in 2008.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11387164/david-lough-body-shot?ex_cid=espnapi_public David Lough's body shot The Orioles outfielder reveals what he gains from pain By Dan Friedell / ESPN The Magazine Originally Published: August 13, 2014

DAVID LOUGH MADE what some considered the catch of the year in a late-April game against the Royals. Thanks to an incredibly strong core, the 28-year-old is able to sustain impact to his body, which he says is all part of the team effort. Lough may be 10th in the AL with nine defensive runs saved this season, but his rate is similar to that of Kansas City's , the league leader. Not to mention that the O's are on top of the AL East (as of Aug. 11). Here, he talks with The Mag about how a low body fat of 3 percent gives him the energy to stay fast on the field.

Dan Friedell: What are the challenges of maintaining your regimen on the road?

David Lough: We don't have cars, so either we'll cab it to a Whole Foods or some type of health store that's close by. I get things like brown rice, organic ramen noodles, brown rice cakes, almond butter and coconut manna. Little things you can mix for snacks here and there. Clubhouses are tricky. Most places don't have good food, but you don't want to just eat rabbit food like salad. You need healthy protein and fatty foods like beef. I'm not totally against beef. If I see steaks, like tenderloins, I'll eat that.

When did you start incorporating healthier eating habits?

My mom worked at a grocery store for 35 years. She still does. When all the organic stuff started coming out -- she worked in that department -- she was bringing it home and cooking it. She always brought home healthy food. She always had that lifestyle, and it kind of rubbed off on me.

How did you manage your diet as a child?

I was always the fastest kid in high school, but I was also very athletic. It wasn't really until college that I started the strength training, but it wasn't very strict. When I played football in college, that's when I put on a lot of weight. I probably weighed close to 200 pounds. I'm only pushing about 180 now, even a little under.

How does your current routine help on the field?

I think it's just a lifestyle thing. If I'm going to eat this way, I'm doing it for a reason. I don't want to be on certain medications, I want to get my nutrition and everything my body needs from food. That's kind of how I approach things. I want to live a long and prosperous life. I'm not going to live to see 120, but I want my body to feel good. It's going to prolong my career. I think it helps me just by doing it year after year. And I stay on the field. I've never been on the DL.

A big highlight for you this season was that catch you made on April 27 against the Royals. What's your thought process behind playing the field?

I'm trying to help my team and my pitcher any way I possibly can. If I let that ball drop and the other team ends up scoring, that's on the pitcher, and it's an earned run. I'm trying to help our team stay in ballgames, win ballgames. I don't take it lightly.

Did your crash landing hurt?

Yeah, making plays like that always hurts like hell the next day, but I play through it. That's the kind of teammate I am, and that's what they expect of me. I've made tons of diving catches in the outfield, and it hasn't affected me one bit.

Talk about your low body fat. How does it improve your game?

Some people say your body has to have this much fat, you have to do this, but I haven't gone on the DL yet with a low level of body fat. People have their theories. I have my own theory, and I think it's worked for me, so I stick with it.

How do you push through while you're training?

It's all about mindset; I really do think it is. That's why trainers are there to push you. When I work out in the offseason, I want someone to be there pushing me or working out with me. I had someone who would work out with me, but he was also my trainer. We would maximize what we could do in and out. We knew when I needed rest and when I needed to push it back. One week you go up in weight, the next week you're plateauing.

Do you have a must-do exercise?

I love a hang clean. It's a full-body exercise. You have the weight on the side, pull it up, then bring it down a little bit. When you start getting into heavier weight, you're using your back, but your entire body needs to stabilize that weight.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/adam-jones-heading-japan-november Adam Jones is heading to Japan in November By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore August 21, 2014, 3:45 pm

CHICAGO – Adam Jones is going to Japan. Jones will join Robinson Cano, Yasiel Puig and Albert Pujols in a November trip to play five games along with other major leaguers against Japan’s national team, known as “Samurai Japan.”

Texas’ Ron Washington will manage the squad. Besides the five games against Japan’s team, Jones and the major leaguers will play two exhibition games.

The trip will take place from Nov. 11-20.

It’s the first time that major leaguers have played in Japan since 2006. It’s the 38th time that major leaguers have played in Japan since 1908.

Three of the games against Samurai Japan will be played at the Tokyo Dome and one each will take place at the Kyocera Dome and Sapporo Dome. Exhibition games will be played in Koshien and Okinawa.

http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/orioles-talk/orioles-playing-well-october-could-happen- heres-why Orioles playing well into October? Could happen, here's why By Rich Dubroff / CSN Baltimore August 21, 2014, 12:30 pm

CHICAGO – The Orioles go into the final 37 games of the season with baseball’s biggest lead, a nine-game advantage over the Toronto Blue Jays.

It would take an enormous collapse for the Orioles to miss the postseason, and that’s not going to happen. This team is too solid.

This week, the Orioles sent out postseason invoices to season ticket holders, and it’s perfectly fine to start mapping out October scenarios.

While we’re at it, it’s O.K. to dream big, so here are five reasons the Orioles could win the World Series.

1) They’ve been playing extremely well for an extended period.

Since June 30, the Orioles are 31-13, the best record in baseball.

The starters are pitching brilliantly. They’ve held the opposition to two runs or fewer in 17 of the 44 games.

At times, the bats have struggled, but great starting pitching and a solid bullpen have bailed them out repeatedly.

Adam Jones has been their most consistent player, and after a prolonged slump, Nelson Cruz has begun hitting again.

They’ve even played well since Manny Machado went out last week with a sprained right knee. Since then, they’re 5-2.

2) This is a better team than the 2012 playoff version.

In 2012, the Orioles had just one pitcher, Wei-Yin Chen who had even 10 wins. This year, Chen, Bud Norris and Chris Tillman have already won at least 10. Chen (13) and Norris (11) have career highs.

The team’s bench players in 2012 included 41-year-old Endy Chavez, Lew Ford, Taylor Teagarden and .

Surely, Ryan Flaherty, Nick Hundley, David Lough and Delmon Young are better.

Flaherty and Robert Andino shared second base in 2012. Jonathan Schoop is better, and a healthy Machado with two more years experience is better than the 2012 version.

Nick Markakis is healthy. He missed the 2012 postseason with a broken thumb.

Of course, Matt Wieters won’t be playing, but Hundley and Caleb Joseph have proven most capable.

3) They’re more experienced than two years ago.

Adam Jones was 2-for-23 in the five-game division series loss to New York. J.J. Hardy was 3- for-22 and Machado 2-for-16.

Flaherty, Machado and McLouth hit the only home runs in that series.

If the Orioles got to play Kansas City, which leads the AL Central in the Division Series, they could face a team in the same position they were in 2012.

The Orioles hadn’t been in the postseason in 15 years, and the Royals haven’t played meaningful October baseball since 1985. Their 29-year absence is the longest playoff drought in professional sports.

Kansas City could suffer from the “just happy to be here” syndrome common for first time playoff teams.

4) Why can’t they beat the rest of the American League?

The Orioles would be favored over the Royals, and while Detroit beat them in five of six games early this season, the Tigers are clearly not the same team they were then.

Detroit’s bullpen is shaky, and the addition of former Oriole Jim Johnson hasn’t helped. When the Tigers acquired to go along with Anibal Sanchez, and , it looked as if Detroit was simply looking to October. Now, Verlander is hurting.

Three weeks later, the Tigers are trailing Kansas City in the AL Central and may not even capture a wild card.

Oakland picked up Jon Lester and Jeff Samardzaja for October. Now the Athletics and Los Angeles Angels are in a fight for the AL West. The loser should get in the postseason as a wild card, but could have to play the Tigers in a one- game playoff, and then if the West winner has the best record in the league, they would play the wild card.

If the Orioles could beat the Royals in the division series, they could face an exhausted team in the American League Championship Series, and that could mean the first World Series in Baltimore since 1983.

5) Who’s afraid of the ?

Thanks to the American League’s win in the All-Star Game, the Orioles would have home field advantage in the World Series and play the first two and last two at Oriole Park.

The Orioles have already played three possible National League playoff teams, Washington, Milwaukee and St. Louis.

They’ve beaten the Nationals in three of four games, and in the two games at Nationals Park, clearly had the crowd advantage. In a World Series, that would not be the case.

The Orioles lost two of three to the Brewers in late May and earlier this month beat the Cardinals in two of three.

They haven’t played NL West-leading Los Angeles or wild card contenders Atlanta and San Francisco, but other than the Dodgers’ , arguably the game’s best pitcher, there’s nothing about those teams that should frighten the Orioles.