August Schedule is Ripe for a Run

[VeveJones007]

After the O's finish with KC today, they have a very reasonable schedule the rest of the month, with only one series against a playoff lock. If they can get to 3-5 games over .500 by the end of August, they'll definitely be in a good position to compete for a wild card over the last month.

DET

@LAA

@OAK

@SEA

LAA

OAK

@BOS

SEA

[DirtyBird]

Yes. We are going to win the division.

[LC_O's_87]

You ignore the Orioles West Coast travails.  They always seem to struggle in Oakland and Seattle.  

If they can take 3/4 from Detroit and play .500 on the West Coast then it's all left to play for down the stretch.

They have 27 games left in division (6-7 each against all 4 AL East teams).  Even the Division will be in play assuming the Red Sox or Yankees don't rip off a 5+ game winning streak in August.

Plus Yanks and Boston Play 10 more times.

[Natty]

I feel a change in the wind. 

[Moshagge3]

Jinx thread.

[SurhoffFTW]

West Coast trip will not be easy. 

[interloper]

17 minutes ago, SurhoffFTW said:

West Coast trip will not be easy. 

This.

[VeveJones007]

20 minutes ago, SurhoffFTW said:

West Coast trip will not be easy. 

None of it will be easy. It will just be relatively easier than if they had 20 games against the likes of BOS, NYY, CLE, and HOU.

[Frobby]

22 minutes ago, SurhoffFTW said:

West Coast trip will not be easy. 

They never are.    But, we've had some good ones.   

2013 - went 7-4 vs. Oakland, Seattle and the Angels in late April/early May

2014 - went 7-4 vs. those same teams in July

 

[LC_O's_87]

54 minutes ago, VeveJones007 said:

None of it will be easy. It will just be relatively easier than if they had 20 games against the likes of BOS, NYY, CLE, and HOU.

Well, they do have 16 games left against BOS, NYY and CLE....

[FlipTheBird]

7 minutes ago, LC_O's_87 said:

Well, they do have 16 games left against BOS, NYY and CLE....

All of whom have a lot to play for. It's not going to be an easy road. Could easily see the O's gaining a lot of ground in the WC in August, and then falling well back in Sept.

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, FlipTheBird said:

All of whom have a lot to play for. It's not going to be an easy road. Could easily see the O's gaining a lot of ground in the WC in August, and then falling well back in Sept.

The O's have always played well in September under Buck.    Having the extra bullpen guys always helps us.    

[FlipTheBird]

4 minutes ago, Frobby said:

The O's have always played well in September under Buck.    Having the extra bullpen guys always helps us.    

It's true that the O's have never played particularly poor for Buck in September... but dating back to 2012, when the team started winning, it's clear that they've had good Septembers... in the years that the team was good enough to make the playoffs.

2016: 16-11
2015: 14-13
2014: 17-10
2013: 14-14
2012: 19-9

That has no bearing whatsoever on 2017, of course. Just noting that they haven't always run away with the month. I don't think a .500 September would do it this year unless they played about .700 ball in August.

My primary concern is matchups. 7 games with Yankees, 3 games with the Indians, 3 games with the Red Sox in September. 13 of your games against teams that are honestly just better than you... and 7 against a club that's beaten the pants off you all season and is BETTER now than the last time they met. It's why I could easily see the O's climbing a few spots in the WC this month... only to falter down the stretch.

The saving grace COULD be the sheer number of games against Tampa (7) in September. Including three to end the season. The Rays are one of the teams they'll have to leapfrog, and that will at least provide ample opportunity.

[scbalt52]

I'd feel better if we played the AL East the rest of the way! 

[El Gordo]