A year ago, the Orioles surprised everyone as they romped to a 101-61 regular season record. Through the end of May, the 2024 O’s were doing it again. At 36-19, the team was on pace for 106 wins, raising hopes of rolling back into the postseason and doing better this time around. Since then, a variety of problems have dragged the team down and it was only by the good fortune of struggles across the field of AL Wild Card contenders that the O’s limped to finishing in the first Wild Card position.
The hopeful thing for the Orioles and their fans now is the same hope that every flawed postseason entrant has each year: That the team can paper over enough of its problems and get enough lucky breaks to play their way to hoisting a trophy.