The Baltimore Orioles were leading the American League East as the All-Star break approached. Last year, the Orioles made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, catching the baseball establishment by surprise. This year, the Orioles are proving that they were not a baseball betting odds accident. Baltimore is here to stay as a contender. Consider that the New York Yankees jumped out to a solid lead in the early portion of the 2024 season. But Baltimore was able to surpass them with a team that is among the most complete in Major League Baseball.
2024 Baltimore Orioles
2024 Baltimore Orioles All-Star Break Overview
Concurrently, at the All-Star break, the Baltimore Orioles had a record of 57-33 and were 1st in the American League East Division. Offensively, Baltimore ranked 1st for runs scored, 5th for batting average, 1st for OPS, 1st for home runs, and 14th for stolen bases. Defensively, Baltimore ranked 4th for earned run average, 4th for WHIP, 11th for strikeouts, 7th for quality starts, 6th for fewest errors, and 13th for bullpen ERA. In sum, Baltimore was +1207 on the moneyline and 46-34 on the sportsbook run line.
2024 Baltimore Orioles Manager
Last year, Brandon Hyde was named 2023 American League Manager of the Year. Hyde has been the Orioles manager since 2019, nurturing a young rebuilding team into a division champion. In 2024, Hyde is confirming that he is one of the best managers in the game.
2024 Baltimore Orioles Key Players
RHP Corbin Burnes arrived from the Milwaukee Brewers, where he was the number one starter, as he is with Baltimore. Burnes has gone 11-5, 12-8, and 10-8 in his last three seasons. However, his ERA increased from 2.94 in 2022 to 3.39 in 2024, with a 1.07 WHIP, up from 0.97 in 2022. Burnes is coming off three consecutive MLB odds All-Star campaigns. So far, in 2024, Burns is 9-3 with a 2.32 ERA and WHIP of 1.02. He posted 105 strikeouts in 112.2 innings.
RHP Kyle Bradish was to be the second starter in the rotation. Last year, Bradish was 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. It was his first full season as a starter. Unfortunately, Bradish has been injured for most of 2024.
RHP Grayson Rodriguez was a reliable second starter in the first half of the season. In 2024, Rodriguez is 11-3 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Additionally, he posted 105 strikeouts in 94.2 innings of work.
RHP and closer Craig Kimbrel will play for his fifth team in five years in 2024. Last year in Philadelphia, Kimbre was 8-6 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He saved 23 games in 28 opportunities. Kimbrell is a six-time All-Star. Including last year. So far in 2024, Kimbrell is 5-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 23 saves with a WHIP of 0.90.
RF Anthony Santander is coming off his most productive season. In 2023, Santander produced 81 runs, 41 doubles, 28 home runs, 95 runs batted in, a .257 batting average, and .797 OPS. So far, in 2024, Santander has 48 runs, 15 doubles, 23 home runs, 57 RBI, a .235 average, a .302 on base percentage, and a .804 OPS.
Thus far in 2024, SS Gunnar Henderson had 76 runs, 18 doubles, 27 home runs, 61 RBI, a .293 average, .384 on base percentage, and .988 OPS.