The Orioles played their 80th game last night, which brings them to the mathematical halfway point of the season tonight in Anaheim.

This club is searching for an identity, and it’s been a laborious task. Contender or pretender, buyer or seller. No winning streak longer than three games, no losing streak longer than five.

They haven’t been more than two games above .500, and that was on April 13. They haven’t been .500 since April 30 after Game 1 of a doubleheader. But they’ve swept the Rays and taken two of three against the Yankees and Dodgers.

How long does it take a team to come into focus?

Here are a few facts that recently became clear.

Colton Cowser is the center fielder.

Manager Craig Albernaz might replace Cowser with a right-handed bat against lefties, but the 2021 first-round draft selection has become the primary pick at the position.

Here’s why it makes sense:

Cowser is the best defender in the outfield, whether or not every single stat in existence supports it. The quality of his at-bats is much improved from earlier in the season, when the strikeouts stacked like firewood. He hit .186/.269/.220 in his first 26 games, but .275/.362/.529 in 24 games last month. He had four homers, a .359 on-base percentage and .841 OPS in 18 games in June going into the Angels series.

Seven of Cowser’s home runs came in his last 27 games. He hit walk-offs on back-to-back days. He’s driving more balls up the middle than in previous seasons.

Cowser was batting .267 with an .837 OPS in 29 games that ended with a win and .205 with a .614 OPS in 39 games with a loss.

“He’s been working diligently, and hard work pays off,” manager Craig Albernaz told the media Sunday. “He’s doing a great job of laying off some tough pitches and fouling off tough pitches. When he gets pitches in the strike zone, he’s punishing it. That’s what he’s doing.”

That’s exactly what Cowser did in 2024, when he was runner-up in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

Cowser was 1-for-14 against left-handers this season until going 2-for-2 with a two-run single against Dodgers reliever Jack Dreyer. He was in the lineup last night against Anaheim’s Sam Aldegheri. That’s what happens when he instills confidence.

The Angels are starting right-handers in the next two games and Cowser probably will be in center again with Leody Taveras in right, which seems to be the arrangement at least until Dylan Beavers returns from the injured list.

“Just trying to stay through the middle and put the ball in play,” Cowser told the media Sunday, “and good things happen.”

Blaze Alexander is playing more than sitting.

The idea behind the February trade for Alexander was to give the Orioles a versatile bench player.

The first part held true. Alexander has played six positions. His value soared with injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday that removed half of the starting infield, and the Orioles can carry four outfielders with Beavers on the IL because Alexander is capable of handling those three spots.

Alexander’s blazing bat is keeping him in the lineup. He played in his 67th game last night, making his 22nd start at third base.

Alexander brought a .312 average to Anaheim that easily led the club. Not counting Ryan Mountcastle’s .286 average in eight games, the next highest belonged to Samuel Basallo at .258.

The same size keeps growing. Before last night, Alexander was hitting .446 with a 1.194 OPS since May 25. He hit .365/.403/.508 last month and was slashing .422/.460/.689 in June.

In 41 games since May 1, Alexander was hitting .389/.427/.583 with 10 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 22 RBIs, six walks, 14 runs, and five stolen bases.

Because the Orioles can’t go more than maybe a day without more adversity, Alexander fouled a ball off his right knee last night and had to leave the game, putting Leody Taveras at the position for the first time as a professional.

Brandon Young isn’t a placeholder.

The Orioles called up Young for a second time when Dean Kremer went on the 15-day injured list April 23 with a strained right quadriceps. His first stay lasted only one day, after he tossed five scoreless innings against the White Sox at Rate Field.

Maybe he was giving a hint.

Young’s 3.07 ERA in 12 games is the lowest among starters. He’s allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 appearances.

Young’s ERA is 2.73 in nine starts since May 6, and you could argue that he’s the ace based on his consistency.

No one will push back on Young staying with the club. It doesn’t matter how crowded the rotation becomes when injured starters are reinstated.

Polar Bear’s still packing power.

Pete Alonso didn’t begin his Orioles career on the right note. One clinker after another. But after hitting .198/.306/.362 in his first 31 games, he slashed .277/.331/.509 in May and was 20-for-69 (.290) with seven home runs, 16 RBIs, a .398 on-base percentage and .609 slugging percentage in 19 games this month before last night.

Alonso’s 18 homers, 52 RBIs, .475 slugging percentage and .812 OPS led the club among qualifying players, and his 74 hits tied Taylor Ward for first. His 38 walks were second to Ward’s 64.

Alonso is one of nine Orioles with 18 or more home runs in his first 80 games with the team. The others are Welington Castillo (18 in 2017), Pedro Álvarez (18 in 2016), Mark Trumbo (23 in 2016), Nelson Cruz (25 in 2014), J.J. Hardy (18 in 2011), Mark Reynolds (18 in 2011), Reggie Jackson (18 in 1976), and Frank Robinson (20 in 1966).

Ten of Alonso’s homers have gone to the opposite field, tying his career high set last year with the Mets. He hit the longest Orioles homer this season with a 439-foot shot to left.