O's group of four stacked up with Dodgers' group on MLB Network

The Orioles offense, particularly four of their key hitters, got some national recognition during a segment on MLB Network today. Not only that, but in a video segment anchored by former Orioles infielder Bill Ripken, when compared to a more heralded and accomplished Los Angeles Dodgers quartet, the Orioles four stacked up very well.

Ripken showed a stat comparison of how Anthony Santander, Pedro Severino, Hanser Alberto and Renato Núñez stacked up with the Dodgers foursome of Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and Corey Seager.

The Dodgers' group of four have combined so far to bat .266 with 19 homers and 59 RBIs. The O's players have combined to hit .307 with 19 homers and 65 RBIs. The Dodgers' group of players is, of course, much more well-known than the O's foursome and Betts recently signed a new 12-year contract for $365 million with Los Angeles.

The O's foursome are all ranked among the top 50 players in the majors in OPS. Severino is 16th at 1.027, Nunez is 22nd at .975, Santander is rated 26th at .935 and Alberto is 50th at .861. Alberto leads the majors with 11 doubles, while Santander's 22 RBIs are tied for the major league lead and he is tied for eighth with seven home runs.

As a team, the Baltimore offense continues to rate among the best in baseball. The club's slugging percentage of .467 is second in the majors to the New York Yankees at .481. The Orioles' OPS of .798 is third in the majors behind the Yankees at .834 and Philadelphia at .803.

The Orioles (12-9) host Toronto (7-11) tonight at 7:35 p.m. at Camden Yards to begin three-game series. They begin play three games behind the Yankees for first place and one game behind Tampa Bay for second in the American League East.

O's minor leaguers featured: Earlier today on "MASN All Access," host Paul Mancano talked to two O's minor leaguers who put the time during the shutdown of baseball to good use. They finished classes toward getting their college degrees. And while doing that, they still found time to get out on a field and work on their baseball skills after the minor league season was canceled.

Both players were members of executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias' first draft class in 2019. Outfielder Johnny Rizer was selected in round seven out of TCU. Pitcher Shelton Perkins was taken in round 16 out of James Madison University.

Rizer, 23, played for both short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Single-A Delmarva in his first pro season in 2019. Over 63 games, he hit .308/.365/.456 with 15 doubles, four triples, four homers, 41 RBIs and an OPS of .821 in 63 games.

Perkins, 23, pitched at Aberdeen, going 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 15 games. Over 17 2/3 innings, he allowed just four hits with 10 walks, 23 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.79.

Santander, Severino, Alberto and Núñez have the @Orioles in the hunt for the Postseason 🙌

Bill Ripken takes a look at Baltimore's big four's hot start and journey to The Show. #MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/avExas7fwJ

-- MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 17, 2020