masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThis season is not ending in a postseason berth for the Orioles and they cannot even have a winning season. But a four-game win streak has put them in position to accomplish a few things at Camden Yards today.
If the Orioles win they will:
* Finish at .500 at 81-81 and record a fourth consecutive non-losing season.
* Clinch sole possession of third place in the American League East.
* Post two straight season series wins over the New York Yankees for the first time since taking three in a row…

This season is not ending in a postseason berth for the Orioles and they cannot even have a winning season. But a four-game win streak has put them in position to accomplish a few things at Camden Yards today.

If the Orioles win they will:

* Finish at .500 at 81-81 and record a fourth consecutive non-losing season.

* Clinch sole possession of third place in the American League East.

* Post two straight season series wins over the New York Yankees for the first time since taking three in a row from 1980-82. The Orioles went 13-6 versus the Yankees last year and are 9-9 this year.

machado-at-bat-white-day-game-sidebar.jpgThe Orioles cannot finish in last place. Of course that is nothing to brag about, just pointing out a fact here.

The Orioles head into their season finale with a plus-15 run differential, outscoring their opponents this year 704 to 689. The Texas Rangers, who will be in the playoffs, have a plus-11 run differential. This basically is yet another example why run differential is not very important.

The Orioles went scoreless in three straight games last weekend at Boston. In six games since then, they have scored 32 runs. During their four-game win streak they have scored 27 runs and given up just 10.

The 2014 Orioles with Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis scored 705 runs and hit 211 homers. The 2015 Orioles without that duo have scored 704 runs and hit 215 home runs.

The O’s are 38-37 in AL East games. They have gone 9-9 against New York, 11-8 versus Boston, 10-9 against Tampa Bay and 8-11 versus Toronto.

Over his last four games, Manny Machado is 7-for-17 with five homers, seven runs and eight RBIs. He is now batting .288 for the season with 35 homers and 86 RBIs. He has homered in four straight games. Over that span, his slugging percentage has increased from .484 to .506 and his OPS from .841 to .865.