With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the American League East and the Baltimore Orioles:
Baltimore Orioles
2018 record: 47-115, 5th in AL East
Projected Lineup:
CF Cedric Mullins
2B Jonathan Villar
DH Mark Trumbo
1B Chris Davis
LF Trey Mancini
RF Joey Rickard
3B Renato Nunez
C Chance Sisco
SS Richie Martin
Starting Rotation:
RH Dylan Bundy
RH Andrew Cashner
RH Alex Cobb
RH Nate Karns
RH David Hess
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH Mychal Givens
LH Richard Bleier
RH Mike Wright Jr.
LH Tanner Scott
Key Bench Pieces:
OF Eric Young Jr.
OF DJ Stewart
INF Jace Peterson
INF Steve Wilkerson
The Baltimore Orioles were, for a lack of a better word, horrendous in 2018. 47-115, one of the worst records in recent memory. Just two years removed from a Wild Card birth, the O’s will once again be looking at another last place finish in 2019, just hoping to up their win total. Chris Davis statistically had one of the worst seasons in baseball history last year. .168 average, .296 SLG, 16 home runs, 192 strikeouts (he also guaranteed $92 million over the next four years; play baseball kids.) The one upside of this Orioles’ offense is Mancini. 24 home runs and 23 doubles in 2018. Aside from him, I can’t see much else to get too excited about.
Starting pitching doesn’t seem to be much better. Of all qualified starters, not one finished with an ERA below 4.00. If there was one starter I would be optimistic on, it would be Bundy. Entering just his age 26 season, Bundy still has the ability to figure his stuff out and become a top of the rotation guy for Baltimore. 2018 was not good for him however. 5.45 ERA, 41 home runs allowed. But he did have 184 strikeouts so the potential is there.
It seems like it will be tough for Orioles’ fans to make it out to Camden Yards, but at least it’s one of the nicer stadiums in the league, so I’ve been told. The O’s just hope to better their win total, but should know they will be far from competing.
2019 prediction: 5th in AL East
