masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgFor those uncomfortable with small sample size stats, skip to another paragraph. For the rest, the Orioles’ Mark Trumbo and Manny Machado are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the American League in both batting average and slugging percentage.
Trumbo is batting .386 and slugging .750, with Machado at .383 and .723.
Trumbo’s best months have usually been April and May. Why is he a fast starter?
“I hit a lot in the offseason,” Trumbo said this afternoon. “I start fairly early. I never slack off and I…

For those uncomfortable with small sample size stats, skip to another paragraph. For the rest, the Orioles’ Mark Trumbo and Manny Machado are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the American League in both batting average and slugging percentage.

Trumbo-orange-at-bat-spring-sidebar.jpgTrumbo is batting .386 and slugging .750, with Machado at .383 and .723.

Trumbo’s best months have usually been April and May. Why is he a fast starter?

“I hit a lot in the offseason,” Trumbo said this afternoon. “I start fairly early. I never slack off and I think that is probably part of it. I start a tad earlier than some guys. You really want to get out of the gate with a decent start.

“I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum. When you struggle early on, you can spend quite a while trying to dig yourself out. It is not something you can totally control, but I try and do what I can there.”

Trumbo, career OPS by month:
.851 – March/April
.902 – May
.676 – June
.749 – July
.728 – August
.692 – September

Yesterday, Trumbo was named co-AL Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday. He hit .320/.346/.960 in six games with five homers and 11 RBIs and shared the honor with Houston’s Jose Altuve.

“It was pretty neat,” he said. “Looking back on the past, I’ve had some good weeks and was never able to win this award. It is definitely a nice step.”

Trumbo has said a few times now he’s never played in a lineup this powerful. The Orioles have hit eight homers over the last two games and 23 on the year to lead the AL.

“No, I’ve played with some good players but never (a lineup) this deep,” he said. “Literally one through nine, you are seeing it. Schoopy (Jonathan Schoop), who is hitting down in the eight or nine spot, is going to hit 20-plus homers. You just don’t see that.

“I like where we’re at (as a team). I think we’ve been in most every ballgame. That is all you can ask. You want to be competitive and you want to show the ability to come from behind a little bit and we’ve done both those things.”

Tonight, the Orioles begin a series hosting defending AL East champ Toronto. The O’s went 8-11 against the Blue Jays last year with a team ERA of 5.84. Too soon to call this a big series?

“They all count the same, but there is definitely probably some emotions that ride higher in certain scenarios,” Trumbo said. “Especially when the crowds are huge and there is a lot on the line. But you still try to approach each game like it is every bit as important as the next one.”