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Baltimore Orioles: Second Half Of Season Predictions

By Aaron Gershon |
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 02: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles is congratulated after hitting a home run in the third inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 02, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 02: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles is congratulated after hitting a home run in the third inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 02, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 25: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles runs against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 25: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles runs against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

The 2019 all-star break is in the books. How will the Baltimore Orioles fare in the second half of the season? Let’s make some predictions.

We’re officially halfway through the 2019 baseball season. The Baltimore Orioles enter the second half with a poor 27-62 record.

It’s safe to say Baltimore who’s on pace to lose 113 games this season will not make the postseason, but there’s still plenty of Oriole baseball to be played.

Can the rebuilding Orioles at least improve upon their 47-115 finish from 2018? Will someone on the roster breakout? Will there be any stunning trades? Here are some predictions for the second half of the season.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 08: Andrew Cashner #54 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on June 08, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 08: Andrew Cashner #54 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on June 08, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The Orioles Will Trade Six Of Their Current Players

There’s no doubt the Orioles will be busy sellers at this year’s deadline. With a team that’s still years away from the postseason, Mike Elias cannot afford to leave any names off of the trading block expect for all-star pitcher John Means.

With that said, there are six veterans; the O’s will likely move at the deadline. Pitchers Andrew Cashner, Dylan Bundy, and Mychal Givens and infielders Hanser Alberto, Jonathan Vilar, and Trey Mancini.

Cashner is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his carer. Bundy is still 26 and was once a top prospect in baseball. Givens is a flamethrower out of the bullpen. Alberto is having a breakout season and wouldn’t hurt a team’s payroll. Vilar is a reliable veteran. Mancini is just entering the prime of his carer and was one of baseball’s biggest all-star snubs.

Any contender would benefit from these six players and will be willing to give young assets. Thus, don’t be surprised if none are Orioles come August first.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 3: John Means #67 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch during the bottom of the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on JuLY 3, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr. /Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 3: John Means #67 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch during the bottom of the first inning of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on JuLY 3, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr. /Getty Images) /

The Orioles Will Shut Down John Means Early

John Means has been one of the best stories in all of baseball this season.

He went from last year not knowing if he’d ever make it to the majors to become an all-star and the ace of the Orioles pitching staff.

The 26-year-old rookie has made a strong case to win the American League Rookie Of The Year Award and has fans excited about the top of their rotation for years to come.

However, after already having a short Injured List stint and being a rookie on a team with no hope of making the playoffs it would not come as any surprise if the Orioles chose to shut down Means early.

Though he’s only tossed 82.2 innings this season, Means has never pitched a full big league season and is not having risk injury with the team going nowhere. Expect the O’s to end his season sometime in early September to preserve their young phenom.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Ryan Mountcastle #76 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a portrait during photo day at Ed Smith stadium on February 20, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
SARASOTA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Ryan Mountcastle #76 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for a portrait during photo day at Ed Smith stadium on February 20, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Ryan Mountcastle Will Be Recalled By August First

With the Orioles likely to trade several veterans there will be openings made on the 40-man roster.

If the O’s do in fact trade Mancini, it’s almost a given they will recall Ryan Mountcastle from Triple-A Norfolk.

Mountcastle is the Orioles top offensive prospect and ranked 55th among all prospects in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. In Triple-A this season he has named an all-star after slashing .307/.329/.505 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI’s in the first half of the season.

There’s little doubt Mountcastle is ready for the pros, but without making trades, there’s no room for him on the roster.

Thankfully for him, trades will be made, and it likely won’t be long after that Mountcastle gets the call to the pros.

TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 7: Asher Wojciechowski #29 of the Baltimore Orioles comes out of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JULY 7: Asher Wojciechowski #29 of the Baltimore Orioles comes out of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on July 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

The Orioles Will Finish 45-117

Despite being on pace to finish 49-113, it’s hard to believe the Orioles will finish with a higher record than last season.

Not because the team is worse, but due to the daunting schedule they face in the second half. The remainder of July features a ten-game home-stand against the American League wild card leading  Tampa Bay Rays Rays, the red hot Washington Nationals and defending world champion Boston Red Sox. Then the team will head west to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres.

In August the Orioles will play series against the New York Yankees and Houston Astros at home and then have to visit the Yankees in the Bronx the Red Sox at Fenway, host the Rays and travel to D.C. to take on the Nationals.

The season’s final month see’s a three-game set against the MLB best Los Angeles Dodgers and more action with the Rays and Red Sox.

It’s a brutal schedule that’s going to be very tough for the rebuilding Orioles to handle.

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Have any predictions for the second half of the season? Comment them below.

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