Not much about the 2018 Orioles is reflected in any of the playoff teams, those eliminated or those remaining. Yet the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are now one win away from returning to the World Series, found themselves in ignominy in one of the most crucial categories in the game.
Both the Orioles and the Dodgers finished the season with identical major league-worst .199 batting averages with runners in scoring position and two outs, an area the Orioles have had success for most of the past decade and topped out in 2017 with a .275 average that was third best in baseball.