Behind the Baltimore Orioles’ Hot Second Half Start

The Baltimore Orioles have been scorching hot both at the plate and on the mound in the weeks since the MLB All-Star break

Entering the second half of the MLB regular season on a four-game losing streak, the Baltimore Orioles suffered a 9-2 loss in Kansas City on the Friday following All-Star festivities, moving their record to 28-62 on the year. However, since then, Baltimore has come back swinging. Following the loss to the Royals on July 16th, the Orioles have been winners of 10 of their last 15 games, narrowing the gap between Baltimore and the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays ever so slightly.

A significant part of the improved offensive output in the second half has been the team’s ability to drive in home runs. In the 89 games prior to the All-Star break, the Orioles averaged 1.1 home runs per game, whereas the team’s average in the second half of the season has risen to nearly 1.4 long balls per game. The best showing of this newfound home run tear came during Monday night’s 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

Holding the potent Yankees offense to one run on just three hits on Monday was Jorge Lopez with an assist from the O’s bullpen to record the final nine outs. Much like Baltimore’s bats, the team’s pitching core has seen an improvement in performance since the All-Star break.

So far in the second half, both the Orioles’ starter group and reliever group are down about a run and a half in ERA from the mark they sat to conclude the first half of the season. In nine of the team’s 16 games since returning from the break, the Orioles have surrendered four runs or fewer, doing a superb job at keeping the offense within striking distance. The solid outings Baltimore’s pitchers have put together are reflected in the team’s second-half fWAR, which ranks seventh among all pitching staffs in baseball.

The Orioles will hope to keep their momentum going by securing a series win against the Yankees this week before an off-day on Thursday.