Looking at the chances for an O's fast start to 2025 and another Jackson Holliday take

And then there were two. Just two days left to share a few thoughts here on the Orioles as I wrap up my 17 years with MASNSports.com.

I continue to stay upbeat and am embracing whatever comes next.

But in whatever manner I follow and/or cover the 2025 Orioles there are a few things I’m looking forward to.

Can the team start fast?: They did last year, and the chance is there to do that again. The 2024 Orioles won their first two games, never spent one day at or under .500 and ended April in first place at 19-10. By the end of May they were 36-19. It all set the stage for a good season and another playoff run.

The O’s open the 2025 season with four at Toronto. And while the Blue Jays won just 74 games last year, they are certainly expected to be a club capable of a playoff run this year. Then the O’s next three opponents all finished at or above .500 last season. But then they play three more series out of four against under .500 clubs from last year.

For what it’s worth, they open with 25 games by April 24^th and just six of those are versus 2024 playoff clubs with 12 against teams that were .500 or better.

Through May 4 they play 15 of 34 games versus playoff teams and 21 of those 34 against clubs that were .500 or better.

Just based off last year’s results, it’s a middle-of-the road schedule on paper. Not easy by any means, but not brutal either. It’s a chance to play good ball and end April playing around what they did last April, which was .655 ball. That would be a real strong start.

Is another playoff berth on tap?: It certainly looks that way. There can always be surprises in any baseball season, but I still see a strong playoff contender here and a club that will challenge for the top spot in the AL East.

Sure, they lost their ace pitcher in Corbin Burnes and have not replaced him on the roster to this point, but additions could still be coming. Either before Opening Day or at the trade deadline.

But I see another playoff appearance coming for this club as the Orioles, should they do it this year, would make the playoffs for three straight years for the second time in team history. It also happened in 1969-1971.

How much can Jackson Holliday improve?: Holliday will play the entire 2025 season at age 21. The fact he didn’t set the world on fire last year on the stat sheet doesn’t bother me in the least. For me, this kid is still ticketed to do great things.

If Holliday truly “pops” and has a real good year, that could be so big for the Orioles. I see someone that can impact the games with his bat, his speed and his glove.

I know some of our group here has lower expectations now due to his struggles with the Orioles. I have no such reservations.

I see a player with a future .800 plus OPS that can hit 30-40 doubles, steal 20-plus bags and hit 15 or more homers. Here is what I don’t know. How soon he can get there. Will this be part of a two-year buildup to such numbers or can he take that leap this season. It’s possible he’s better this year but only to league average numbers and then as he gets the experience in the bigs, really breaks out in 2026 or 2027. Sometimes it just doesn’t come as fast as we want.

But with this kid, I think it will be coming.