Fansided

5 reasons the Baltimore Orioles could be sleepers in Wild Card race

By Connor Muldowney

Aug 31, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) celebrates with right fielder Chris Davis (19) after scoring in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Tampa Bay Rays defeated Baltimore Orioles 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) celebrates with right fielder Chris Davis (19) after scoring in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Tampa Bay Rays defeated Baltimore Orioles 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Aug 30, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter looks on from the dugout during a ballgame against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter looks on from the dugout during a ballgame against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports /

3. They control their own destiny

With the limited number of games remaining in the 2015 campaign, the Orioles have somewhat of an advantage over the competition battling for a Wild Card spot.

OK, it’s understandable that people have counted Baltimore out because of the recent stretch, but the Orioles have to put that behind them and look forward to the month ahead. As 25 games remain on the schedule, 19 of them are against division foes who happen to be ahead of them in the playoff race.

Six of the 25 games are against the Boston Red Sox, which could end up being a confidence-booster, and three more are against the first-place Kansas City Royals. The final three contests remaining the equally mercurial Washington Nationals of the National League.

To say that the Orioles control their own destiny is an understatement. Not often do teams get a shot to play about two-thirds of their remaining schedules against other squads ahead of them in the playoff race.

Say the Orioles win 10-12 of those 17 games, then they’re back in the thick of things in the Wild Card race and they can forget about the awful stretch they’ve suffered over the past two-plus weeks.

Baltimore has its own future in the palm of its hand.

Next: 2. American League is weak

Home/Baltimore Orioles