Peter Schmuck’s short take: If the Orioles are going to make a move, now would be the time

So what’s going on here? Did the Orioles just figure out how they used to win games when they were headed to the playoffs the last couple of years?

Or are they teasing us again?

If you aren’t willing to invest any more emotion in this – so far – very disappointing season, it’s fair to just enjoy every game that looks like the first two of this series in Atlanta. Just remember that Sunday’s game is on ROKU at 11:30 am.

Saturday’s exciting extra-inning victory was everything you want to see from the O’s. Jordan Westburg hit another home run … and this one landed somewhere near Augusta. The Orioles scored runs in several innings, which is not something you’ve been able to take for granted since the first half of the 2024 season. And they played excellent defense to keep hope alive until they scored three times in the 10th inning of their 9-6 victory.

The win on Friday night wasn’t as exciting, but it was a good, clean game that featured the bullpen we all came to love earlier in the season.

Now, all they have to do is complete the sweep and drop into single digits under .500 and you dream about the six- or seven-game winning streak that would keep hope alive for a late playoff run.

Or not. We’ve been here before. I let myself imagine a longshot comeback during the six-game winning streak and they had my optimism punctured by a return to inconsistency that defined the first half of the season. Not sure I’ll go that far again without some real movement when they get home to face the Mets and the Marlins.

But Gunnar is starting to look like Gunnar and both Colton Cowser (who also homered last night) and Westburg have come back from the IL with a vengeance. If Tyler O’Neill can do the same, there is real hope for an offensive upsurge.

Oops. There I go again. Just enjoy the game.