O's notes on AL East success, quality starts and more as Wrigley Field awaits

CHICAGO – The Orioles lost their first two American League East series of the 2023 season with series losses to Boston and the New York. They have not lost a series in the division since then.

Their 4-2 win over Toronto on Thursday afternoon in Baltimore gave the Orioles another rubber match game win, another series win and another AL East series win.

They are now 11-4 in five straight AL East series wins against in order Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, New York and Toronto. They have at least one series win against every other team in the division during the AL East series win streak.

As the latest Orioles road trip begins this afternoon at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field and the Orioles play the Chicago Cubs, the team will again this weekend call on its depth to help win games.

Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver called it “deep depth” and the 2023 Orioles are showing some of that.

Going into Thursday’s game with Toronto, the Orioles had played 13 games without center fielder Cedric Mullins. And they were 8-5 in those games. Now 9-5.

They have actually been hitting better without Mullins and yes that is a small sample size.

But in the games through May 29 when he was active on their roster, the team batting average was .249, the OPS .742 and they averaged 4.91 runs per game.

In the 13 games since he got hurt, going into yesterday, the team batting line was .270/.318/.460/.777 and the Orioles have scored 5.38 runs per game.

“I think it just shows the depth that we have as a team and how prepared guys were to fill in, in different areas, different positions,” O’s outfielder and Mullins close friend Austin Hays said during the Toronto series. “We’ve had guys moving around a lot and shook up the lineup a lot. So, it shows the guys that are getting opportunities right now, how prepared they were to step in if something like that were to happen.”

Several players have stepped up including new addition Aaron Hicks along with players like Ryan O’Hearn to come up with key hits and drive in big runs.

“We have depth on our bench to really be able to shake up the lineup and have guys play multiple positions. You can’t just put one guy in the lineup to replace Cedric because he is so dynamic. His speed, his defense and ability to hit for power out of the leadoff spot. We've had multiple guys hit leadoff. Aaron coming in and doing what he has done. He’s been amazing for the lineup and has taken some great at-bats,” said Hays.

A few pitching notes: The Orioles went 5-1 on their homestand that ended yesterday and have won six of their past seven overall, outscoring their opponents 42-20 in that span.

Baltimore pitchers allowed just six runs in the sweep of Kansas City and just 11 in the series against Toronto. So, they allowed 17 runs in the 5-1 homestand and have allowed 20 runs the past seven games. In that span, Baltimore pitchers have allowed three runs or less in six of the seven games.

O’s pitchers are throwing a lot of strikes lately. The O’s staff has walked just 12 men over the last eight games.

Baltimore starting pitchers have recorded four consecutive quality starts with an ERA of 2.77 in those games. They have five quality starts in a six-game span with a rotation ERA of 2.61 in that stretch.

Baltimore hurlers have 23 quality starts on the year and are 19-4 (.826) when they get one.

Some big pitching on the farm: Double-A Bowie lefty Cade Povich retired the first 18 Richmond batters he faced last night, taking a perfect game into the top of the seventh. Then he gave up a leadoff single but what an outing he had as Bowie beat Richmond 6-2.

Povich's outing might have been a bit unexpected because he had allowed 14 earned runs in 11 1/3 his past three games. But on this night, he gave up one hit in seven scoreless with no walks and 13 strikeouts. He fanned the first six batters he faced last night, setting new career highs for innings and strikeouts. Povich is now 5-5 with a 4.83 ERA.

At Triple-A, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez had a no-hitter through five innings as the Tides beat Worcester 3-2. He wound up allowing two hits and two runs over six innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts. Rodriguez is now 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA.

Heston Kjerstad hit a solo homer and went 2-for-4. He is 5-for-9 his past two games with three extra-base hits. And, in his first eight Triple-A games, Kjerstad is batting .313 with a .965 OPS.