Thoughts on Orioles’ makeover, schedule and options at Norfolk

When the Orioles resume play Tuesday night in Toronto, they’ll be tied with the New York Yankees for the American League East lead. The Orioles have been leading or tied for the division lead since June 27^th, and it’s entirely possible that when the teams meet in the final week of September that the race will still be that tight.

The Orioles have won six of the 10 games played between the teams, and if they can win at least one of those three remaining games late next month, they’ll secure the season series. That’s vital because if the teams end the season tied, the winner of the 13-game season series wins the AL East.

The Orioles last played at Yankee Stadium on June 20^th.  They were a season-high 24 games over .500 (49-25). Since then, they’ve had two five game losing streaks and an 18-21 record.

The Yankees were 51-26, and they’ve gone 15-20 since then. New York has improved recently, winning seven of eight while the Orioles have won six of nine, and hope their difficult days of late June and July are behind them.

In the last 10 days, the Orioles have remade their roster, changing eight of their 26 players, and the team seems rejuvenated.

Second baseman Jackson Holliday, recalled last Wednesday, and third baseman Coby Mayo, added on Friday, came from the organization while designated hitter Eloy Jiménez, outfielder Austin Slater, starting pitchers Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers and relievers Seranthony Dominguez and Gregory Soto have arrived since July 26^th.

The Orioles had a challenging June schedule, playing five likely playoff teams: Atlanta, Cleveland, Houston, New York and Philadelphia. While they were 17-12 in June, they had a losing month in July, with a 12-13 record.

The good news is that the schedule looks a bit easier for the final stretch. In those last 49 games, they’ll play only one other first-place team besides the Yankees, a difficult three-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers late this month.

While they play potential playoff teams — Boston, Houston, Minnesota and the New York Mets — on the schedule, they also have 20 games remaining against teams that are under .500 — Detroit, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington and consecutive series with Colorado, which has the worst record in the National League, and the historically bad Chicago White Sox, whose loss Monday night against Oakland was their 21st in a row, tying the American League record held by the 1988 Orioles.

As astute Orioles fans can tell you playing bottom feeders is no guarantee of success. Just two weeks ago, the Orioles lost two of three to Miami, which had the worst record in the National League, and barely escaped with a win in the final game.

Making over the majors and minors, too

At the beginning of the season, five promising young players were sent to Norfolk: Holliday, Mayo, infielder Connor Norby, and outfielders Kyle Stowers and Heston Kjerstad. Only Kjerstad, who was optioned for the second time in the regular season, is at Norfolk. Norby and Stowers were sent to the Marlins for Rogers.

The deadline deals and injuries to infielders Jorge Mateo and Jordan Westburg have left the Tides with a veteran roster.

Kjerstad is likely to return, possibly on September 1^st when teams get an extra position player, and could return earlier if there’s an injury to an outfielder.

Besides Kjerstad, the Norfolk position player roster is full of players with major league experience, some with substantial big league time, but no top prospects.

First baseman Garrett Cooper and infielder Niko Goodrum, who joined Norfolk in late June and early July, are veterans. So is outfielder Daniel Johnson, who’s been in Norfolk all season. Infielders Nick Maton, Liván Soto and Terrin Vavra have had brief stints with the Orioles since mid-June.

If there are more injuries, this is the replacement pool of infielders and outfielders executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is likely to choose from. With the trade deadline past, it’s possible the Orioles could claim others on waivers, but for the most part, the exciting prospects are here, and it’s likely to be another year before catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, who’s still at Double-A Bowie, is ready for the majors.

If the Orioles need another starting pitcher from below, they still have Cole Irvin, Chayce McDermott, Cade Povich and Bruce Zimmermann. Norfolk relievers with big league time include Keegan Akin, Bryan Baker, Tucker Davidson, Dillon Tate and Nick Vespi.

The Orioles will be able to add a 14^th pitcher on September 1^st as well.

Last year, Elias secured the dependable right-hander, Jacob Webb, off waivers on August 7^th and perhaps there’ll be another addition in the coming days.

Note: The Orioles announced that Cal Ripken Jr. would serve as “guest splasher” on September 6^th, the 29^th anniversary of his breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak.