Editor's note: One year after the Orioles won 96 games and their first American League East title since 1997, they can finish no better than .500 and will miss the postseason. This week, The Baltimore Sun is breaking down what went wrong in 2015 and how to fix it.
Manager Buck Showalter uses a favorite adage when asked to gauge the Orioles' momentum — it's only as good as the next day's starting pitcher.
That was true last season, when the Orioles rotation posted a remarkable 2.98 ERA after the All-Star break, emerging as the biggest strength down the stretch as the club won its first division title in 17 years.