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Baltimore Orioles 2015 MLB season preview and predictions

By Robby Sabo

Oct 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) hits a single during the eighth inning in game one of the 2014 American League divisional series against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) hits a single during the eighth inning in game one of the 2014 American League divisional series against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 9, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) bats during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) bats during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

2015 Predictions

Projected Lineup:

  1. LF Alejandro De Aza (L)
  2. 3B Manny Machado (R)
  3. 1B Chris Davis (L)
  4. CF Adam Jones (R)
  5. DH Delmon Young (R)
  6. C Matt Wieters (S)
  7. SS JJ Hardy (R)
  8. RF Travis Snider (L)
  9. 2B Jonathan Schoop (R)

Bench:

  • OF David Lough (L)
  • INF Everth Cabrera (S)
  • 1B/OF Steve Pearce (R)
  • C Caleb Joseph (R)

Rotation:

  1. RHP Chris Tillman
  2. LHP Wei-Yin Chen
  3. RHP Bud Norris
  4. RHP Miguel Gonzalez
  5. RHP Kevin Gausman

Bullpen:

  • RHP Zach Britton
  • RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
  • RHP Darren O’Day
  • RHP Tommy Hunter
  • LHP Brian Matusz
  • RHP Brad Brasch
  • LHP Wesley Wright

Top Prospects:

  • RHP Dylan Bundy
  • 1B Christian Walker
  • C Chance Cisco
  • RHP Hunter Harvey
  • OF Dariel Alvarez

While most of the baseball world believes Baltimore took a major step back this offseason, some could argue 2014 was only a small sample of what’s to come.

Yes, Cruz, Markasis and Miller are all gone. They all contributed majorly to the club. However, while the Orioles don’t have any true acquisitions coming in, they do have players in the form of acquisitions already in place.

They finished up the season without major players including Wieters, Machado and Davis, all out due to injury or suspension. These three guys coming back should by itself improve the offense in a major way.

If Davis somehow cannot regain his 2013 form, it’s hard to believe he won’t at least pop 30 dingers. Should he fail all together, youngster Christian Walker will be ready to go at a moments notice.

Another major question mark surrounds one of their leaders, catcher Matt Wieters. Coming off Tommy John surgery last summer, will he be ready for opening day? His target date for having full clearance is right now March 17.

While both their hitting and pitching finished in the top 10 last season, and led the majors in home runs, Showalter will need to allow his team to create another identity if he wants to win the AL East. They’ll have to find ways around not being the same power hitting team which slugged 211 a season ago.

Feb 25, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy (49) pitches a ball during spring training workouts at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy (49) pitches a ball during spring training workouts at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

They won’t do it by speed, as Alejandro De Aza and David Hough are the only conceivable players who could steal over 20 bases on the team. Instead, their staff and rotation will have to be top notch. Dylan Bundy would have to have success early and find his way into the top half of the rotation by May. Aside from Chris Tillman, there are too many question marks.

The only way I see the Orioles making the postseason is if Davis returns to his full 2013 form, Machado stays healthy and breaks through, and Bundy becomes a force in the rotation.

Buck will once again work his magic, but a high 80’s win team while battling for one of the two Wild Cards should be expected at Camden Yards this season.

  • Record: 86-76, 2nd in the AL East
  • Playoffs: Will not qualify, just barely missing out on the 2nd Wild Card

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