A year ago the Baltimore Orioles looked like a dynasty in the making.
Since then, they’ve been thoroughly mediocre, and even an improved stretch recently hasn’t helped their outlook much for 2025.
After losing two of three to the Yankees in New York, the Orioles are 11 games under .500.
They’ve gone 18-11 over their last 29, so perhaps the worst is over, but over the last 162 regular-season games, Baltimore is 75-87.
It’s a remarkable decline for a team that won 101 games in 2023, started 49-25 last year and had a core of standouts that was young and cost-controlled.
Injuries have been a major factor, with catcher and former No. 1 overall draft pick Adley Rutschman the latest big name to go on the IL. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez hasn’t pitched at all this year.
Zach Eflin has made only 11 starts with a 5.46 ERA, and outfielder Colton Cowser and infielder Jordan Westburg have missed significant time as well.
The front office has received little sympathy following an offseason in which ace Corbin Burnes departed and the Orioles replaced him with stopgap solutions on one-year deals.
Although Baltimore is just 7 1/2 games out of a postseason spot, FanGraphs isn’t a believer, giving the Orioles just a 3.6% chance of making the playoffs.
Baltimore is one of five 2024 postseason participants that would miss out if this season had ended Wednesday.
Here are the others:
SAN DIEGO (43-36 record, 37.5% postseason chance according to FanGraphs): The Padres are a half-game behind resurgent Milwaukee for the last spot in the National League playoffs.
San Diego has been treading water since a 23-11 start, and its division just became more interesting after San Francisco acquired Rafael Devers.
