One major flaw contributing to Orioles’ offensive woes

There's a simple philosophy to scoring runs in Major League Baseball. Get runners on base, put them in scoring position, and drive them in. When those 13 words are typed out, it sounds easy enough, yet it's not easy for every team to put runs on the board.

The league batting average with runners in scoring position is .250 this season. Eight MLB teams are hitting above .270, and one team is below .200. That would be the Baltimore Orioles, who rank last in the league with a .189 batting average with runners in scoring position through 39 games.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why the Orioles aren’t scoring at a high clip. Baltimore's team batting average in May (.241) is above its season average (.227), yet the O's only scored 27 runs in nine games. Their batting average with runners in scoring position in those nine games? .186, three points lower than their season average.

Even in their 7-3 series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, the Orioles were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. It's a trend that's been down all season, and one Baltimore has to find answers to if its season is to be salvaged.

Solving the Orioles' RISP conundrum

It's not just that the Orioles can’t drive runners in. Baltimore is barely getting those opportunities to begin with. The O's have the second-fewest plate appearances and third-fewest at-bats with runners in scoring position.

The simple solution is to get on base more. Baltimore ranks 26th in on-base percentage and 25th in walk rate. Those numbers won't get you very far. Add in a 24.3% strikeout rate, the Orioles aren't putting enough balls in play, let alone racking up the hits.

The limited OBP is hurting the Orioles' comeback chances. Over 71% of Baltimore's 46 home runs this year are solo homers. For comparison, the Cleveland Guardians, right below the Orioles with 45 homers, have 64% solo shots. The league-leading New York Yankees clubbed 36.5% of their 74 homers for multiple runs.

Another crutch for Baltimore's offense is its lack of base running. The Orioles barely average a stolen base every two games, with 20 total in 39 games entering Tuesday's action. Speed hasn't been a significant part of their game over the past few seasons - the O's averaged 106 steals in 2023 and 2024 - but it puts more pressure on the lineup to produce the "big hits" when runners aren't in motion.

The entirety of Baltimore's lineup is feeling that pressure in 2025. Of the 10 Orioles with at least 20 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, only two have a batting average above .222. Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday are hitting .154. Gunnar Henderson is at .200.

As evidenced by these scary numbers, nothing is "simple" in Major League Baseball. There's no easy way to score runs, and luck is involved much more than players want to admit. The Orioles are unluckier than most teams this season. Improving their approach with runners in scoring position can turn that around.

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