One of the biggest surprises in the first third of the 2020 Major League Baseball regular season is the fact that the Baltimore Orioles are two games above .500 at 12 wins and 10 losses. In 2019, the Orioles had the second worst record in baseball at 54 wins and 108 losses. Here are five reasons why the Orioles have moved from a winning percentage of .333 to .545.
5) Leading the American League in sacrifice bunts per game–So far this season, the Orioles have had 0.18 sacrifice hits per game, which leads the American League. They also have nine sacrifices overall. Rio Ruiz and DJ Stewart lead the team with two sacrifices each.
4) Improved starting pitching from Alex Cobb and Thomas Eshelman–Last year, Alex Cobb struggled mightily as he had an earned run average of 10.95 in three starts after missing most of the year with lumbar strain and hip surgery. Eshelman meanwhile had an ERA of 6.50 in 10 games. In 2020, Cobb has an ERA of 3.76 in five starts, while Eshelman is at 3.65 in three games.
3) Winning on the road–A year ago the Orioles had a horrendous road record of 29 wins and 52 losses. However in 2020, they have a spectacular record of eight wins and two loss away from Camden Yards. After being hammered 13-2 in their season opener in Boston at Fenway Park, the Orioles have won eight road games–two against the Red Sox, and three wins each against the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.
2) Second in the American League in batting average–At .259, the Orioles have the second best batting average in the American League. Only the New York Yankees are better at .263. Of the Orioles regulars, four Orioles are batting above .300. Jose Iglesias is in fact at .400. He is followed by Pedro Severino at .328, Hanser Alberto at .313, and Renato Nunez at .304.
1) Lead the American League in extra base hits– The Orioles are currently tied in the American League with the Tampa Bay Rays for the most extra base hits with 81. The Orioles have 47 doubles, 32 home runs and two doubles. Anthony Santander of Isla Margarita, Venezuela leads the Orioles with 16 extra base hits as he has eight doubles, seven home runs and one triple.
