Midday Mailbag: How important is the Orioles’ sweepless streak?

Every weekday, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.

Question: My question is whether the team (players and/or front office) are talking about or concerned about the regular-season sweepless series streak. Or is it just of interest to the fans and media? From: Stanley Snarski 

Answer: Stan, it doesn’t seem to be a huge topic of conversation around the clubhouse, though Adley Rutschman was asked about it after Wednesday’s game when his two-run, walk-off homer in the ninth lifted the Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and preserved the streak.

I think it’s of more interest to fans and the media. I can tell you it’s something the media has often discussed.

It is a real accomplishment. While the team did get swept by the Texas Rangers in the postseason and had a four-game losing streak last season when they lost the last two games of a series in Minnesota and the first two of a series at Yankee Stadium, not falling into a prolonged slump is the sign of a quality team. The regular-season sweepless streak is up to 105, and the club has not been swept since Rutschman arrived on Preakness Day 2022.

Question: As a fan, we know when relievers pitch in games.  However, when we hear they haven’t pitched in two days, does that mean they haven’t thrown any bullpen sessions and are just resting in between appearances? If they are struggling, it must be tough for them to try to work on something when they’re trying to rest up.  From: Ed Heiger

Answer: Ed, relievers generally throw some each day except when the team isn’t playing. For much of the team, it’s playing catch in the outfield a few hours before the game. If a pitcher hasn’t thrown in a game for three or four days, he may throw in the bullpen. The only days pitchers usually don’t throw at all are when the team is off.