Orioles back in division play as break nears

Can the Orioles make it 11 in a row while returning to division play?

Probably not a smart idea to start doubting them.

A three-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field, where the Orioles were swept to begin the season, leads into the All-Star break, followed by four at home against the Yankees and three versus the Rays. Ten games that could provide a clearer read on the Orioles’ actual chances of staying in the wild card race.

The Orioles haven’t played an American League East team since hosting the Rays on June 19. They won that day and proceeded to go 15-6 against non-division opponents. They haven’t lost since Jorge López’s back-to-back blown saves in Minnesota.

I don’t think this is how he planned it.

López is an All-Star. His son Mikael was in Chicago with him for the Cubs series. López carried him down the incredibly long flight of stairs Wednesday that lead from the clubhouse to the dugout, with Mikael holding his glove and saying he was going to play catch.

They both had huge smiles on their faces.

There’s a lot of that going around the club.

The skeptics have pointed out that the Orioles are “beating bad teams,” which makes me smile because they have the first pick in the upcoming draft. They were the worst team in 2021. Now, suddenly, wins are supposed to be discounted because of the opposition?

“Just wait until they’re back in the East.”

Well, let’s not turn up our noses at three consecutive series sweeps. They hadn’t done it since Lee Mazzilli was manager in 2005, when they won three in Toronto, two in Boston and three at home against the Devil Rays, who dropped the “Devil” two years later.

The Orioles were 17-7 through 24 games and stayed in first place for 62 straight days. Mazzilli was fired on Aug. 4 with the Orioles 51-56. They had lost eight in a row, 16 of 18 and 28 of 37.

They also lost Rafael Palmeiro to a suspension following his positive test for performance enhancing drugs.

The 2022 Orioles aren’t the same disaster.

They also don’t have the same pitching issues. The 2005 team posted a 5.76 earned run average and botched five of six save chances while losing 16 of 18 prior to Mazzilli’s firing.

This year’s model has a 3.90 staff ERA. The bullpen’s ERA ranked fifth in the majors last night at 3.19.

The rotation has posted a 2.33 ERA since June 19, the lowest in the majors. The staff has allowed two runs or fewer in 15 of the last 25 games for a 2.59 ERA.

Ask manager Brandon Hyde about the biggest difference in this team compared to the past, and he’ll immediately point to the pitching. Every single time. And he’s been asked a lot.

The off-days presented Hyde with a few options for the Rays series. Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer are starting the first two games on six days’ rest, and Sunday is TBA.

Jordan Lyles would be working on normal rest if he’s handed the ball. Austin Voth would be on six days.

Hyde seemed to be leaning toward Lyles earlier this week, but he backed off a little.

Spenser Watkins is the only starter who isn’t available after working five-plus innings Wednesday in Chicago.

The Orioles will miss left-hander Shane McClanahan, who started Wednesday and might do the same in the All-Star Game, and Shane Baz, who went on the injured list yesterday with a right elbow sprain.

Baz reportedly could miss at least two months. He’s the 12th pitcher and 17th Tampa Bay player on the injured list, the most in franchise history.

Luis Patiño is expected to be activated from the injured list to start tonight, perhaps for only a few innings. The Rays probably will use an opener Saturday, which is so on brand, with Ryan Yarbrough joining them to provide bulk innings. Corey Kluber starts Sunday.

The break will leave Hyde with the task of figuring out how to align his rotation for the second half. There are possible changes coming to it, of course, with Kyle Bradish on his rehab assignment, and DL Hall, Bruce Zimmermann and Matt Harvey pitching for Triple-A Norfolk.

Lyles is a trade chip. He might be gone by the Aug. 2 deadline.

Harvey started again yesterday and allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. He threw 92 pitches.

His suspension is over, which is why he's in the International League.

Bradish started at Double-A Bowie and tossed five scoreless innings with one hit, no walks and four strikeouts. He hasn’t allowed a run in eight rehab innings with the Baysox, with just one hit, no walks and nine strikeouts.

The Orioles might want him to make another start before promoting him.

There doesn’t seem to be a rush to make any changes to the rotation.

* The Guardians claimed left-hander Kirk McCarty off waivers from the Orioles yesterday, which basically is a reversed transaction.

The Orioles selected him off waivers from the Guardians on July 6 and he made one start with Norfolk.

Don’t know what you got till it’s gone.