The O's make their playoff push led by rejuvenated rotation

While it had to be a most welcome sight to Orioles fans to see their team's offense breakout for eight runs in the win at New York last night, the starting pitcher delivered yet another solid performance.

Orioles starters have been on a nice seven-game run, helping the team go 6-1 as the O's continue to rebound from that four-game home sweep against Boston that preceded this stretch.

In the Boston series at Camden Yards, O's starting pitchers had an ERA of 6.38. In the seven games since that series, that mark is 2.05. In the Toronto series, that mark was 2.45. Six different pitchers have been on the mound in this run starting with Yovani Gallardo a week ago yesterday against Arizona. He was followed by Wade Miley, Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausman, Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez and Gallardo again.

The last two nights Jimenez and Gallardo have come up real big. They've combined to pitch 12 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run. In fact the Orioles have pitched back-to-back three-hitters versus the Blue Jays and Yankees.

Over the past three games, counting Tillman's start on Wednesday, O's starters have allowed two earned runs over 18 1/3 for an ERA of 0.98.

Coming into this season the Orioles rotation was a major question mark. And over the full season, the O's rotation ERA of 4.74 ranks last among American League East teams and 13th in the AL overall. But in the last seven games they have put together a strong performance at a critical time.

Perhaps most surprising of all, is that it has been the veteran pitchers leading the way here. While Gausman has allowed 10 runs in 12 1/3 innings his past two starts and Bundy pitched to an ERA of 5.11 in September, the trio of Jimenez, Miley and Gallardo have been excelling.

Jimenez is 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA his last seven starts and he pitched that outstanding game Thursday at Toronto. Gallardo has allowed eight hits and three runs in 12 innings his past two starts. Miley has allowed one run in 12 2/3 innings his past two starts. In you take those seven starts by Jimenez and the last two each for Gallardo and Miley, you get an ERA of 2.12 in those 11 starts. Yep, surprising and impressive.

Then you take the fact the the O's bullpen is a roll (21 consecutive scoreless innings the last seven games) and the O's pitching staff overall had a strong month of September that ended last night.

The O's team ERA led the AL in September:
2.90 - Orioles
3.05 - Boston
3.22 - Seattle
3.72 - Los Angeles Angels

The Orioles had the AL's third-best record in September:
.703 - Boston (19-8)
.667 - Seattle (18-9)
.593 - Baltimore and Cleveland (16-11)

As the calender turns to October today the Orioles are closing in on a playoff berth and home wild card game. They hold the first wild card spot by one game over Toronto, by 1 ½ games over Detroit and by two over Seattle.

Quite a turnaround for a team that was two games behind the Blue Jays after Tuesday's loss at Rogers Centre and was two outs away Wednesday night from falling three games back.

The Orioles are playing good baseball since the Boston series and the starting pitching has been a major factor in the 6-1 run.