The Baltimore Orioles have been one of baseball's most interesting stories this season. They took some big steps towards respectability in 2022, rising from 110 losses the previous year to win 83 games and finish just three games back of the third AL Wild Card spot.
This year, they have been even better and have proven to be a dangerous ball-club. This is a team with a powerful offense led by young stars such as Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Cedric Mullins, Jordan Westburg, Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle, and others.
Needless to say, they should be a very dangerous team by the time the postseason comes around, now that they have secured their spot in this year's dance.
However, that doesn't mean that they're fully in the clear. When the postseason starts, it's not always about who is best, but rather, who is hot. That team could be the Orioles, but plenty of other teams will have something to say about that and have their own reasons to be excited for the postseason.
The Orioles have not been to the postseason since all the way back in 2016, and haven't won a postseason game since the 2014 ALDS. But they'll be looking to change that this season.
Still, there are several teams they may want to watch out for when the playoffs get underway. Some of them could be postseason opponents, while others they may be lucky to avoid.
In this piece, we will discuss three teams the Orioles should hope to avoid this October.
The Texas Rangers could be a serious threat
The Rangers are a dangerous team this season. They've had some issues with injuries, unfortunately, as Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are out for the season. But their starting staff remains very strong as the postseason nears.
Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Jordan Montgomery, Dane Dunning, and Andrew Heaney reside in the Rangers rotation. Teams typically shift to a four-man rotation come October, and the top three listed are going to be dangerous as the Rangers match up with their postseason opponents.
Eovaldi has great postseason experience, dating back to his successful run in the 2018 playoffs when the Boston Red Sox won their ninth World Series title. He also guided them to the playoffs in 2021.
The Rangers also boast a very powerful lineup that features stars such as Adolis Garcia, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim, Josh Jung, and Mitch Garver.
These sluggers will be tough to deal with in the postseason. Given that the Orioles and Rangers would be the top two seeds in the American League if the postseason began today, a matchup in the ALCS would not be too much of a stretch.
It would certainly be an exciting series, but the Rangers are dangerous from top to bottom offensively and on the pitching side. Even with a few key pieces down in their rotation, Texas is going to be a force to be reckoned with this October and shouldn't be taken lightly.
The Orioles should watch out for the Braves
It's hard to argue the Braves status as the best team in all of baseball. They've already wrapped up the race in the NL East and secured their sixth consecutive division title.
But it's important to remember why they are the World Series favorites and who they have on their roster. Their lineup consists of two MVP candidates in Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson who are hitting home runs at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, their lineup also consists of Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy, Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia, and reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Harris II.
On the pitching side, they are also quite loaded. Their rotation is full of reliable arms from top to bottom. Max Fried and Spencer Strider are the ones that stand out, but you can't sleep on guys like Bryce Elder, Kyle Wright and Charlie Morton. Morton and Fried are both hurt, but are also expected back by the time the postseason begins.
This means that the Braves will be a force in the National League once they get healthy. It's easy to see why they have been picked by so many to go to the World Series and win their second title in three years.
They fell short against the Philadelphia Phillies last year in the NLDS, which effectively ended their World Series title defense. However, they came back this year with a vengeance. Should the Orioles face them in the World Series, they'll have their hands full.
The Orioles shouldn't sleep on the Brewers
Finally, the Milwaukee Brewers are a team that the Orioles will have their hands full with.
The Brewers are best known for their elite pitching staff. With Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, and Brandon Woodruff at the top, the Brewers have already secured their place as the best team in the NL Central, having clinched the division after a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Wade Miley has also had a very productive season. He was signed to a one-year deal this past offseason. He is 9-4 with a 3.20 ERA.
But the Brewers are a serious threat to make a run to the World Series. They have not been to the Fall Classic since all the way back in 1982 when they were still in the American League. But with such an elite starting rotation, they could be the team to emerge as National League champions.
If the Orioles are stuck facing Burnes, Woodruff, and Peralta in the first three games of the series, they could be in some serious trouble. Not to mention, the Brewers have plenty of stars in their lineup such as Sal Frelick, Bryce Turang, Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Mark Canha, and Rowdy Tellez.
Devin Williams at the back end of the bullpen is also somebody to worry about. The Orioles are without Felix Bautista, and if the Brewers get a lead before the ninth inning, Williams will be waiting for the Orioles when they take their last hacks.
