Orioles peaking at the right time?

As much as so many folks have complained about the inconsistencies of the Baltimore Orioles down the stretch, they now find themselves two games out in the America League playoff chase. We saw them go from the depths of despair coming out of last week’s series with New York, only to now being right back in the thick of contention. Any team in the Orioles’ position needs to look for help in terms of other teams losing, and the Orioles got that this past weekend with Boston sweeping New York. On the flip side, the Orioles will now travel to Fenway for a three-game set starting tonight.

Courtesy of USA Today

Obviously the Birds need to keep up the momentum they gained over the weekend in Canada…would you agree, eh?! (Sorry folks…I have no issue with Canadians but sometimes they’re easy targets!) They also have to hope that Boston’s due for a loss in a sense. A day off is always welcome at this point in the season, but the Orioles are certainly hoping that being off yesterday breaks up Boston’s momentum and does nothing to theirs.

Whether or not the Orioles are even peaking (after one series against a team they probably should beat anyways) is another story, however if they are peaking they’re doing so at the right time. I still maintain that if the O’s can win two-of-three the rest of the way (perhaps sweeping Toronto at home and taking three-of-four in Tampa), they should find a way into the post season. That quest starts tonight at Fenway, with Scott Feldman going to the mound. He’ll be opposed by Boston’s Ryan Dempster.