Three Weeks to Go

[Uli2001]

(... I wanna be sedated ...)

No, seriously. Here are the schedules of the Orioles and TB.

The Orioles play 20 games, 13 at home, 7 away:
STL (3H)
TB (4H)
Hou (3A)
Cle (4A)
Was (2H)
Bos (4H)

Tampa Bay plays 18 games, 6 at home, 12 away:
Min (3A)
Orioles (4A)
LAA (3H)
Tor (3H)
Bos (2A)
Tor (3A)

Orioles have tough series left against TB, Hou (7 games). TB has tough series left against Min, Orioles, Tor (13 games). I am not counting Bos as tough for either team, because they will probably eliminated, and because they aren't that good.

Orioles have the 11th SOS, but Tampa Bay has the second SOS. In addition, TB plays 12 games away, where they are much less successful than at home. TB also finishes on the road, while the Orioles finish at home.

I think that it's going to take some unusual, sustained bad play on the part of the Orioles not to take the division. I think that if they can split with TB at home. It will be tough for TB to make up the difference, provided that the Orioles take care of business against Stl, Cle, Was, and Bos at home.

 

[Frobby]

The one scheduling advantage for Tampa is they have two more off days than we do.  The O’s just started a stretch of playing 17 days in a row.  Tampa is 10 days into their own 17-day stretch, but things get cushy for then after that in terms of off days, with three in the last two weeks instead of our one.  I think this week decides just how hairy those final two weeks will be.  

[btdart20]

Just wanted to pause a minute to revel in the moment...  How awesome is it to be looking at the schedule to this degree this late in the season?  Not simply for a WC spot but for the AL EAST TITLE! 

The next week of games will impact the last two weeks. 

Plus, in my dream world Houston misses the playoffs.  That's a long shot, but how awesome would a sweep in Houston be!?!

[baltfan]

I feel like Boston has given the Orioles more problems than anyone in the East. There is something about how well they hit our pitching.  

[dystopia]

11 minutes ago, baltfan said:

I feel like Boston has given the Orioles more problems than anyone in the East. There is something about how well they hit our pitching.  

I don’t think you’re wrong, per se, but I know going into that series that everyone on this board would be happy with 2/3 and if McKenna catches a fly ball we’re 6-3 against them this year. 

[AlbNYfan]

If Urias and O'Hearn make plays on those 2 ground balls 7-2????

[DenPA2002]

1 hour ago, btdart20 said:

Not simply for a WC spot but for the AL EAST TITLE! 

 

Not just the AL East Title--the #1 seed in the AL. 

[Uli2001]

1 hour ago, DenPA2002 said:

Not just the AL East Title--the #1 seed in the AL. 

Indeed. I think the last time this happened was 1997.

[Bahama O's Fan]

Well, I had hope for Seattle to win at least one vs Tampa, but that didn't happen

[dystopia]

6 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

Well, I had hope for Seattle to win at least one vs Tampa, but that didn't happen

They won 1/4. 

[Bahama O's Fan]

15 minutes ago, dystopia said:

They won 1/4. 

Sorry, I must have missed that. I thought it was three game series

[Brooks The Great]

Jordan Westburg needs to be playing every day once he's over the undisclosed injury he has. Upgrading over Frazier and reducing at bats for Mateo and Urias is going to make this team better in the playoffs.

[Frobby]

7 hours ago, baltfan said:

I feel like Boston has given the Orioles more problems than anyone in the East. There is something about how well they hit our pitching.  

They’ve hit us considerably better in Fenway (48 runs in 6 games) than at OPACY (14 runs in 3 games).   So, I feel good about the return match to close out the season.  Plus, I’m hoping we’ll have clinched the AL East by then.