Orioles' impressive streak dating back to 2021 snapped by lowly Cubs

Although the Cardinals snapped the Orioles' incredible streak of not being swept in 106 series this past May, the Orioles were quietly in the midst of another crazy sweep streak. Coming into this week's three-game series against the Cubs at Camden Yards, the Orioles had not been swept at home since 2021.

That was before Adley Rutschman debuted in Baltimore. Heck, that was before the Braves beat the Astros in the World Series, the Rams beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl, and the Warriors beat the Celtics in the Finals. The Nationals still had Juan Soto at that point, and they didn't trade him until the following season. It was a long time ago.

In a stunning turn of events, the sweep-free streak at Camden Yards came crashing down with a vengeance this week at the hands of the last place Chicago Cubs. And it wasn't particularly close. In an absolute thrashing of the O's on their home field, the Cubs won by scores of 9-2, 4-0, and 8-0, cooling off the previously red-hot Orioles, winners of 7 of their last 10.

The Baltimore Orioles suffered their first sweep at Camden Yards since August 27-29, 2021 against the Tampa Bay Rays

To put this into perspective, the last time the Orioles were swept at home was August 27-29, 2021 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Pitching for the Orioles on August 29 were Spenser Watkins, Jorge Lopez (who ironically got the final out in the Cubs' sweep of the Orioles), Paul Fry, Conner Greene, and Tanner Scott, now a star closer in Miami.

The Orioles lineup that day featured several players who are long since gone from Baltimore: Trey Mancini at DH, DJ Stewart in right field, Jahmai Jones at second base, Kelvin Gutierrez at third base, and Austin Wynns at catcher. That loss dropped the Orioles to 40-89 on the season. Chris Ellis, long since forgotten, started the next night, in Toronto.

So much good has happened since then in Birdland that it's difficult to comprehend. And while good teams do not often get swept at home, it is not that much of a rarity. The New York Yankees were swept at home just last week by the middling Cincinnati Reds. The Boston Red Sox, who are suddenly hot on the Orioles and Yankees' tails, were swept at home by the Orioles in April.

And the Phillies - owners of baseball's best record this year and a game away from the World Series last year - were swept at home just last September. Indeed, the Orioles, themselves, were swept by the Atlanta Braves at home just two series before the late August Rays series. In other words, it happens.

These statistics and trips down memory lane to see what the Orioles looked like the last time they were swept at home are truly a testament to how incredible the O's have played since 2022.

Although the great sweep streak ended against the Cardinals in May (and the Orioles were swept yet again in Houston in June), this week's sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs truly feels like the end of this great sweep-free run.

And not only did it happen at the hands of the Cubs, who were 42-49 coming into the series, but it resulted in the Cubs outscoring the Orioles, 21-2. But what can we say? That's baseball.