Is it better to be lucky than good? Now think about this one: Is it better to be unlucky than bad? Actually, the Orioles might be both of those things, but tonight they hit 11 batted balls with an exit velocity of 99 mph or more (nine at 100+ mph) and saw just three drop in for hits. Over the course of the game, the Orioles’ xBA was .302. The Athletics’ was .238. Yet the A’s walked away winners on Tuesday night.
The Orioles have faced some stiff pitching competition thus far in the year. Suffice it to say that although Cole Irvin led the AL in starts in 2021, he is not that caliber of pitcher.