MLB Betting Online: Hope springs eternal in Major League Baseball. Your favorite team made a key offseason move, the prized prospect is ready for his breakout season or the injuries from last year have all healed. Whatever the circumstance, everyone is tied for first at this point.
The good news for the Baltimore Orioles is that they didn’t lose much from last season. The bad news for the Baltimore Orioles is that they didn’t add much to a team that limped to a very average 81-81 record. Manager Buck Showalter has changed the losing culture in Baltimore, but it’s always challenging in the AL East, especially when everyone except the Rays is walking around with deep pockets.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
+5029 to win 2016 World Series
+2423 to win AL Pennant
The Orioles have followed 14 straight losing seasons with four in a row at .500 or above, but they failed to make the playoffs in 2015 because the rotation regressed and they didn’t adequately replace outfielders Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz.
They’re showing more of a willingness to spend money, which is long overdue, and they figure to contend again with the chance to get back into the postseason if their starters bounce back and they do a better job in free agency or on the trade market.
The Orioles will once again be carried by an offense that’s led by Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Adam Jones. Last season, that trio combined for 478 hits and 109 homers. Machado will be in the running for a possible MVP award and Davis has topped 40 home runs in two of his last three seasons.
The Orioles finished ninth last season in runs scored and were third with 217 homers. With that big three and under the radar guys such as Jimmy Paredes and Jonathan Schoop in the mix, Baltimore will once again have one of the better offenses in all of baseball.
Few center fielders in baseball can brag that they’re better than Jones, and none can say that they play harder. Jones was banged up for much of the season and still became the first outfielder in club history to smack at least 25 home runs in five straight seasons.
Hyun-soo Kim, signed out of the Korean Baseball Organization, is a career .318/.406/.488 hitter in 10 seasons. He brings the on-base capabilities that the Orioles desperately need, plus a batting eye that allowed him to draw 101 walks last season.
The concern for the Orioles this season will be the pitching staff, especially with Wei-Yin Chen now in a Miami Marlins uniform. Chris Tillman is a solid veteran but is coming off a season in which he had a 4.99 ERA. Miguel Gonzalez has a 3.82 ERA in four seasons, and Ubaldo Jimenez has bounced around the league due to his inconsistencies.
The O’s needed to bolster the suspect rotation and they may have found their guy in Yovani Gallardo, who inked a three-year deal and becomes the ace of the staff. Gallardo won 13 games with Texas last season.
The bullpen remains the strength, with the back end particularly formidable. Orioles relievers ranked third in the AL with a 3.21 ERA last year, and the unit returns closer Zach Britton, setup man Darren O’Day, righthanders Brad Brach and Mychal Givens and left-handed specialist Brian Matusz. Britton has gone from failed starter to shutdown closer, making his first All-Star team and recording 36 saves last baseball season.
Key Additions: OF/IF/DH Mark Trumbo, SP Hyun-soo Kim, SP Yovani Gallardo.
Key Losses: OF Steve Pearce, SP Wei-Yin Chen.
The core group of players and the bullpen are reasons for optimism, but that probably won’t be enough to win the AL East. This team is good — just not good enough when stacked up against the top dogs in the American League. The Orioles will go as far as their offense takes them once again this season.
Prediction: 83-79
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The 2016 MLB season begins on Sunday, April 3.
