Is a division title chance slipping away from O's and will wild card be next?

On kind of a strange Wednesday for the Baltimore Orioles, their front office was quite active but their offense was not. While the Orioles scored just one run until down to their final out last night, they added two outfielders to their team.

They acquired Drew Stubbs on a waiver claim from Texas. They traded for Michael Bourn from Arizona and gave up minor league outfielder Jason Heinrich.

Bourn, 33, has batted .261/.307/.362 with 12 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 43 runs scored, 30 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 89 games with Arizona this year. Since the start of 2008, Bourn ranks third in the majors with 66 triples and ranks second with 320 stolen bases.

Stubbs, 31, has batted .259/.343/.414 with three home runs, six RBIs and eight stolen bases over 39 games between the Rangers and Atlanta Braves this season. Stubbs has stolen more than 20 bases in a single season four times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), including a career-high 40 steals in 2011 which ranked tied for second in the National League.

As for the Toronto series, it was rather disappointing for the Orioles. Their starters produced three consecutive quality starts, they held Toronto to 13 runs in three games but scored just nine. The Orioles offense produced just 19 hits in the series and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles have fallen four games off the pace in the AL East and their recent play in the division doesn't provide much hope to their fans that they can win the East for the second time in three years. The Orioles are 2-6 in their last eight and 4-12 in their past 16 AL East games.

In their last five series in the division, they have gone 1-3 at New York, 1-2 at Toronto, 0-2 versus Boston, 1-2 at New York and 1-2 versus Toronto, losing all five series.

The Orioles led the division by two games at the All-Star break and were 15 games over .500 at 51-36. Since the break, the Orioles are 21-25 while Toronto is 25-17. The Blue Jays have gained six games on the Orioles since the All-Star Game.

When the Orioles have gotten solid offense lately their pitchers often have given up a lot of runs. When they have pitched well - like the Toronto series - they have not scored often enough.

Write off the Orioles at your own risk, but there is not a lot going well right now to hang your hat on. In addition to the poor recent record of the team, they continue to play without Chris Tillman, Darren O'Day and Adam Jones, who could return Friday.

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September has arrived and the Orioles are running out of time. They have dropped to third place in the division and just don't look good enough to win it right now. They are tied for the second wild card but have several teams bearing down on them.

The Orioles' poor play opened the door for Toronto and Boston to pass them in the AL East. Is it only a matter of time before the same thing happens in the wild-card race?

AFL Orioles: We found out yesterday which players the Orioles are sending to the Arizona Fall League as preliminary rosters were released. The O's are sending right-handed pitchers Jesus Liranzo and Jimmy Yacabonis and left-handed pitcher Tanner Scott to the AFL, along with catcher Austin Wynns, infielder Adrian Marin and outfielder D.J. Stewart to play for Peoria. For more on the AFL assignments, click here.

Gold medal winner in Aberdeen: In honor of her recent success at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. prior to the short season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds game tonight at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

A Maryland native, Maroulis defeated Japan's Saori Yoshida, a 13-time world champion and three-time reigning Olympic champion, to give the United States its first gold medal in women's wrestling. A first-time Olympian, Maroulis is fresh off her first world title in 2015 and hosts the longest winning streak (57 straight matches) of all American wrestlers. Traditionally competing in the 55kg (121 lbs.) weight class, Maroulis cut weight to compete in the 53kg division in Rio.

She will throw out of the first pitch tonight at around 6:45 p.m. in Aberdeen before the IronBirds host Brooklyn. The team's last homestand of the year runs through Monday. For more info on the team and ticket information, go to IronBirdsbaseball.com.




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