Though the Orioles were disappointed in the results of their just-completed West Coast trip, they returned to Baltimore still very much in the thick of the wild-card race.
Little has sorted itself out since the Orioles traveled across the country. They left home 2½ games out of the American League’s second wild-card spot and despite a 4-6 road trip, they return just three games out.
Now they will begin a key stretch of their schedule that could end up defining their season, though initially they will have the benefit of playing 16 of their next 19 games at Camden Yards.