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 /
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Sep 1, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Paul Janish (15) throws to second base during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Paul Janish (15) throws to second base during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. American League is weak

This much we do know: the American League is extremely weak this year. If you look back at the past few seasons, the Wild Card teams were at least 10 games over .500 for the regular season. In fact, the Royals were 16 games over when they took the first Wild Card spot last season and the Oakland Athletics were 14 over.

For the 2015 season, the outlook is much different. It seems as if a team with a .500 record of 81-81 could potentially get into the playoffs, and that’s exactly what the MLB front office wanted when it created a second Wild Card spot — extreme competition.

Baltimore might be under .500 right now, but a strong run to finish the year could see Orioles finishing five games over the mark and getting into the playoffs by the slimmest of margins.

Luckily for the Orioles, they happen to be in the weaker of the two leagues this season and even the last place team in the AL still has a mathematical shot to make the postseason — which is absolutely ridiculous for the final month of the season.

Let’s face it, the Orioles are lucky to have lost 15 of 18 games and find themselves just 7 games out of the Wild Card. That just goes to show how weak the AL is and that runs can happen at any time.

Next: 1. Elite offense

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