(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles entered the season with high hopes for themselves.
However, many outside sources did not think they could compete for a playoff berth.
The Orioles silenced many of their doubters this year.
Baltimore became the first team in the American League to clinch a playoff berth.
Also, they have the best record in the league and are looking for the road to the World Series to go through Camden Yards.
Before the season, FanGraphs released a list of the odds for each team to make the playoffs.
According to Codify, there were 22 teams on that list before you saw the Orioles.
Teams that FanGraphs gave a better chance in the preseason of making the playoffs than the Orioles:
BravesPadresYankeesAstrosMetsBlue JaysDodgersCardinalsRaysBrewersPhilliesTwinsAngelsGuardiansMarinersGiantsRangersRed SoxWhite SoxMarlinsDiamondbacksCubs
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 18, 2023
Many of the teams on this list will not only miss the postseason but have had terrible years.
The two teams that stand out for most Orioles fans have to be the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Being able to outplay two division rivals all season long has to be glorifying for fans in Baltimore.
Many people were calling the Yankees a potential World Series team.
Yet, the Orioles are the ones who have emerged as true World Series contenders.
Baltimore has a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East.
Those have been two of the best teams in baseball all year and they will battle it out until the final game.
Winning the division is crucial because that will give them a first-round bye.
Not having to play in the Wild Card round can help the Orioles set their pitching up however they like.
While many people did not have faith in the Orioles before the season, they better have some now.
The post List Shows Previous Lack Of Faith In The Orioles appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Read full post on MLB News, Rumors, & Highlights (Updated Daily)
