2020 Baltimore Orioles MLB Preview
The Baltimore Orioles are one team that no matter how long the season goes is almost locked into their standing already. That is because the Orioles have had so many problems on the year already coming from last year. The Orioles were unable to get anything done with the off season moves, but also with the improvements the team needed to make. This is very sadly for the Orioles fans, but for Baltimore playing in a large market division as a small market team it definitely makes it hard for the Orioles to be taken seriously.
Baltimore Orioles Starting Rotation
The starting rotation for the Orioles is really going to be one of the major downfalls for the Baltimore team. The projected opening day starter is John Means. Means will do decent on the year, but after that the Orioles have Alex Cobb, Asher Wojciechowski, Wade LeBlanc, and Tommy Milone. Last season was the first full year for Means in the majors. Means threw in 31 games and started 27 of them. Means did throw 155 innings while striking out 121 batters while posting a 12-11 record and a 3.60 ERA.
Baltimore Orioles Bullpen
The relievers for the Orioles is going to be an area that could grow in concern as a lot of the players that are in the pen could be decent pitchers, but the Orioles are one team that could overwork the bullpen quite a bit. The main reliever for the Orioles is Shawn Armstrong, but he could be challenged. The closer is projected to be Hunter Harvey. Harvey did look decent last year as a rookie with 7 games pitched with 11 strikeouts and a 1-0 record, but did not get a save and blew one save while getting a 1.42 ERA.
Baltimore Orioles Catchers
The catching position for the Orioles has come down to the main man whose job is to lose the starting place. The Orioles will rely mostly on Pedro Severino who played in 96 games last year for Baltimore. Severino only managed to hit at a clip of .249 on the year with 13 homers and 44 RBIs. The downside is Severino is easy to run on as he only threw out 23.6% of the runners.
Baltimore Orioles Corners
The Orioles have Chris Davis playing at first and Rio Ruiz playing at third. The Orioles do have a good backups at both positions, but if they do have to play it could hurt the Orioles in other positions if they do have to take off for the other players. Davis last year in 105 games, but was horrible at hitting at a clip of .179 in 307 at bats, but did hit 12 homers and brought home 36 runners. Ruiz played in 127 games while hitting at a clip of .232 while cranking out 12 homers and bringing in 46 runners.
Baltimore Orioles Middle Infield
When it comes the middle infield the Orioles are actually pretty solid and should be seen as one point that could be the building blocks for the Orioles. The Orioles have Hanser Alberto at second base and Jose Iglesias in at short. Both positions are backed up by Richie Martin which could be a problem if either one gets injured. Last year Alberto played in 139 games and hit at a clip of .305, but pop was not in his bat with 12 homers and 51 runners brought home. Iglesias for his part just came to the Orioles, but for the Reds last year played in 146 games with a .288 average and provided 11 homers with 59 runners brought home.
Baltimore Orioles Outfield
The outfield is a questionable place for the Orioles with very little depth. The Orioles have Anthony Santander in left, but he backs up center and right. In center it is supposed to be Austin Hays, but DJ Stewart is supposed to man right. Dwight Smith Jr. is the backup for Santander. Last season Santander played in 93 games and hit at a clip of .261 with 20 homers, but mostly solo shots with only 59 runners brought home. Austin Hays for his part played in only 21 games, but was decent hitting with a .309 average and 4 homers with 13 runners brought home. A lot could be expected from Hays if the Orioles are to be successful. Stewart for his part also did not play much with only 44 games played, but was not that great at hitting at a clip of .238 with 4 homers and 15 runners brought back home.
Baltimore Orioles Designated Hitter
Renato Nunez is the projected designated hitter for the Orioles when they take the field. Nunez has done quite a bit for the Orioles, but can be a defensive liability. He has played in 151 games while hitting at a clip of .244, but has the power the Orioles need with 31 homers and 90 runners brought home.
Baltimore Orioles Prediction
The Orioles are one team that has pretty much locked in where they will be sitting at the end of the season this year. The Orioles have managed to do decent at losing in the years past and this one will be no different. The big difference is outside of a couple of older players the Orioles look very youthful and do look like a team that could start to pick up quite a few wins in the future as the younger talent core comes together. This year, though, look for the Orioles to struggle and finish in dead last again in the American League East.
