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The Baltimore Orioles expected a lot more entering the 2025 season. Coming off of two playoff appearances in as many years, including winning the American League East and piling up more than 100 wins last year, they did not expect to find themselves in the division cellar.
However, that is where they currently reside, as they entered Tuesday with an 11-17 record, sitting in fifth in the AL East. Their closest competitor, the Toronto Blue Jays, sits two games ahead at 13-15.
While the sluggish start has seen Baltimore's playoff chances take a precipitous drop, it has also seen the club's stock fall in the eyes of MLB observers as well. In the latest power rankings from The Athletic, the site's baseball experts ranked Baltimore 21st, a three-spot fall from last week.
"Yes, of all the position players you thought might make a leap forward for the Orioles this season, the 30-year-old free-agent-to-be was tops on the list, right? [Cedric] Mullins is partying like it’s 2021, when he broke out with a 30/30 season; unfortunately, so are the Orioles, who lost 110 that year," wrote The Athletic's Tim Britton. "Mullins’ slugging percentage — .574 entering Monday — would be the best by an everyday center fielder since Mike Trout in 2019. And since 2010, only Trout, Charlie Blackmon in Colorado and Matt Kemp in his best season have slugged more from center than Mullins has so far."
Mullins has been the lone bright spot of the offense to this point in the season. In a contract year, and surrounded by players like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, Mullins is the lone position player on the team who qualifies for the batting title while carrying an OPS above .700.
Entering Tuesday, Mullins has batted .292/.432/.551 with six home runs, 20 RBI and a 190 OPS+ across 111 plate appearances in 26 games. A decline will probably happen, but the veteran outfielder is still on pace for his best season since he posted a 137 OPS+ in 2021.
Mullins alone can not pull this team to victory, and he will need a plethora of help from the other bigger-named talents on the roster.
Regardless, it is shaping up to be a long year for the Orioles. But, at least, they have at least the rest of this season of Mullins to witness.
Continue reading...
However, that is where they currently reside, as they entered Tuesday with an 11-17 record, sitting in fifth in the AL East. Their closest competitor, the Toronto Blue Jays, sits two games ahead at 13-15.
While the sluggish start has seen Baltimore's playoff chances take a precipitous drop, it has also seen the club's stock fall in the eyes of MLB observers as well. In the latest power rankings from The Athletic, the site's baseball experts ranked Baltimore 21st, a three-spot fall from last week.
"Yes, of all the position players you thought might make a leap forward for the Orioles this season, the 30-year-old free-agent-to-be was tops on the list, right? [Cedric] Mullins is partying like it’s 2021, when he broke out with a 30/30 season; unfortunately, so are the Orioles, who lost 110 that year," wrote The Athletic's Tim Britton. "Mullins’ slugging percentage — .574 entering Monday — would be the best by an everyday center fielder since Mike Trout in 2019. And since 2010, only Trout, Charlie Blackmon in Colorado and Matt Kemp in his best season have slugged more from center than Mullins has so far."
Mullins has been the lone bright spot of the offense to this point in the season. In a contract year, and surrounded by players like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, Mullins is the lone position player on the team who qualifies for the batting title while carrying an OPS above .700.
Entering Tuesday, Mullins has batted .292/.432/.551 with six home runs, 20 RBI and a 190 OPS+ across 111 plate appearances in 26 games. A decline will probably happen, but the veteran outfielder is still on pace for his best season since he posted a 137 OPS+ in 2021.
Mullins alone can not pull this team to victory, and he will need a plethora of help from the other bigger-named talents on the roster.
Regardless, it is shaping up to be a long year for the Orioles. But, at least, they have at least the rest of this season of Mullins to witness.
Continue reading...
