(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles had an 83-79 record last season, but they still play in the tough AL East: their odds of actually making the postseason this year weren’t particularly good.
Baseball, however, has a Cinderella story every once in a while, and that’s why we all love it.
With excellent drafting, attention to the international free agent market, savvy trades, and a huge improvement in player development, the 2023 Orioles are beating the odds.
Not only that, but they actually lead the AL East with a 62-38 record.
Yes: they have been better, to this point, than the Tampa Bay Rays, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees.
Orioles insider Nathan Ruiz illustrates how the team’s fortunes and odds have changes since the start of the season.
FanGraphs odds the Orioles will make the playoffs, opening day: 10.4%
FanGraphs odds the Orioles will *miss* the playoffs, today: 10.1%
— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) July 25, 2023
Before the 2023 campaign started, Baltimore had 10.4 percent odds of making the postseason.
Now, their odds of missing the playoffs are just 10.1 percent.
Yes, read that again: the O’s have 89.9 percent odds of making the postseason at this point.
In other words: only a disaster would prevent Baltimore from playing in October for the first time since 2016.
The city definitely deserved a highly competitive team, and that’s what general manager Mike Elias is delivering.
Since taking over the O’s in 2019, the franchise has taken step forward after step forward even if the team was a disaster back then.
Sometimes, the most important work goes on inside the offices.
Baltimore is now favored to make the playoffs and their odds of doing it as a division champ are also solid.
The post The Orioles Have Flipped The Odds Upside Down appeared first on The Cold Wire.