5 Orioles players that need to play better for Baltimore to have any chance in ALDS

Several Orioles players are going to have to pick things up if Baltimore wants to have any chance of overcoming their 2-0 deficit in the ALDS.
Division Series - Texas Rangers v Baltimore Orioles - Game Two
Division Series - Texas Rangers v Baltimore Orioles - Game Two / Greg Fiume/GettyImages
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While the Baltimore Orioles were the American League's best team in the regular season, they have looked like anything but that through the first two games of the ALDS. The Orioles' offense has been inconsistent while the Rangers' offense has found little resistance (especially in Game Two) from Baltimore's pitching staff.

Some may want to blame the week long downtime between the end of the regular season and the start of the ALDS, but the fundamental reality here is that Texas is just playing with more urgency and getting contributions from throughout their roster while the Orioles have not. Here is a look at some of the Orioles players that need to get going here very soon if Baltimore wants any chance of coming back in this series.

Cedric Mullins

It has been a couple of seasons since Cedric Mullins looked primed to be a break out star in the league, but he still posted a reasonable season in 2023 with a .721 OPS with 15 homers and 19 steals. Certainly not anywhere close to what he did in 2021, but he still had moments where he was dynamic and could change games with his power and his legs.

Unfortunately, those moments have not happened so far in the ALDS against the Rangers. Through the series first two games, Mullins is 0-8 with three strikeouts. Baltimore is going to need a lot more than that out of Cedric if they want to stand any chance of making this series closer.