Fansided

MLB playoffs 2016: 3 reasons the Orioles make it

By Joshua Sadlock

Aug 26, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 20, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman (39) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman (39) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orioles spent 111 days in first place this year. With ten games left, their playoff lives hang in the balance.

The Baltimore Orioles were never supposed to be in this position. None of the major publications picked them to make the playoffs, and the advanced metrics hate their odds-defying pitching staff. Somehow, this team with a starting rotation whose ERA would indicate that they have spent half the year pitching in Coors Field is still holding onto a playoff spot.

The Orioles control their own destiny by virtue of their strong first half. They have played sub-.500 baseball in the second half, and the offense has been unable to carry the weak pitching staff. With a tenuous half-game lead in the race for the Wild Card at the time of this writing, the Orioles control their own destiny. Here are three reasons they can still back into a playoff spot.

Kevin Gausman has emerged as an ace

The ace the Orioles have been waiting for since Mike Mussina bolted for New York has finally arrived. Kevin Gausman is 7-5 with a 2.94 ERA in the second half of the season. He has located his fastball more effectively while using his splitter and changeup as a strikeout pitch.

Gausman is coming off a nine-game run in which he posted a 2.06 ERA over 56.2 innings with 62 strikeouts and only 17 walks. More importantly, he limited his home-run rate to 0.6 per nine. Home runs had posed a major problem to Gausman in the first half of the season.

Gausman’s most recent start was a bit of a let-down, but it’s hard to blame him entirely. Pitching in the seventh inning of a 2-1 game, manager Buck Showalter left his young right-hander in to pitch to David Ortiz. Big Papi unloaded a three-run homer to dead center field, and Gausman’s excellent start was undone on his 101st pitch of the game. In hindsight, the manager should have realized Gausman was gassed after battling the Red Sox for six-plus innings. Lefty specialist Donnie Hart has faced Ortiz several times this season, and has gotten good results.

The Orioles were dealt a bit of bad news, as Gausman is dealing with a sore intercostal muscle after his last start, and will have to be pushed back a few days. The Orioles should still be able to squeeze two more starts out of Gausman before the end of the season provided he responds well to treatment. Hold your breath, O’s fans.

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