3 surprises and 2 disappointments from first month of MLB regular season

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Delay (55) and second baseman Ji Hwan Bae (3) and shortstop Oneil Cruz (right) greet left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) after all players scored runs against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Reynolds hit a three run triple and scored on an error on the play. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

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Adley Rutschman, Orioles (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

MLB Surprise: Baltimore Orioles

Another afterthought in the American League East, the Baltimore Orioles have gotten off to a surging start (17-8).

This is a team that I was high on entering the year, probably more than most, especially after a strong season in 2022. But I thought that coming off that season, they should have invested in a high-end player (Carlos Correa?). Instead, they stood pat, and made marginal upgrades throughout the roster.

So far, the Orioles look a team that is here to stay, both now and long-term. They rank seventh in baseball in runs scored (132) and 10th in OPS (.755) behind the early performances of Cedric Mullins, Adley Rutschman and others. Their pitching, which was their biggest weakness entering the year, has been middle-of-the-road (4.18 ERA) and improved after the early call-up of heralded prospect Grayson Rodriguez.

Perhaps this is not the year that the Orioles win the AL East. But they are certainly getting closer, and we’re seeing flashes of what the team believes is the start of a long, sustained window of contention.

Next. MLB Rumors: Grading 3 trade packages to fix the St. Louis Cardinals. dark

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