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AL Wild Card 2016: 5 reasons Orioles will win

By Joshua Sadlock

Sep 7, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) looks on during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) looks on during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles find themselves matched up against their mortal enemies the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Wild Card Game. Can they extend their season?

Despite taking a “two steps forward, three steps backward” approach to qualifying for the MLB postseason, the Baltimore Orioles find themselves playing in the AL Wild Card Game for the second time in five years. In 2012, the O’s downed the Texas Rangers to advance to the ALDS. This time, they square off against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Orioles lost the season series to the Jays by one game. In their 19 games, Baltimore was outscored by a margin of 97-81, with a few blowouts providing the extra margin. In the season’s final week, Buck Showalter’s bunch traveled up to Toronto and took two of three from the Blue Jays in a key series.

Both teams in the AL Wild Card Game had to endure a difficult battle to the finish just to get into the postseason. Neither will want to go quietly after just one game. Do the Orioles have what it  takes to get past Toronto?

Here are five reasons the Orioles will be advancing through the Wild Card Game and into the ALDS.

Sep 30, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) hits a 2-RBI double during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) hits a 2-RBI double during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Quick strike can take the crowd out of it

Last year, when the Blue Jays stormed to the AL East title, thousands of Canadians discovered they actually had more than a passing interest in baseball. For years, you could hear a pin drop in the Rogers Centre, but now that the Jays have built a winner again, the place is raucous and rowdy. Just ask the Texas Rangers how powerful the home-field advantage can be for the Blue Jays in October.

The Orioles had their shot at claiming home-field advantage, but blew a 3-0 lead to the New York Yankees last week. No use crying over spilled milk now. In September, the Orioles solved many of the road woes that had plagued them all season long. They took key series wins on the road from the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees. For the year, the Orioles had a 38-42 record away from home, but went 10-5 during the season’s final month.

Putting a few runs on the board in the early innings will be crucial for the Orioles. That should quiet the crowd down just a bit. One big blast from Mark Trumbo or Chris Davis will put the Jays on their heels and change the dynamic of the game.

The first inning has been a problem for the Orioles this year. As a team, they were outscored 107-86 in the game’s first frame. In this crucial game, they cannot afford to be behind the eight ball in the early going. The Orioles do have that ability to strike early and often, as evidenced by their four-homer first inning in August against the Houston Astros.

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