Orioles opponent preview: Other AL contenders

To be the man, you gotta beat the man.For most of the second half of last season, as the Orioles dueled the Rays for the AL East title, it felt to me like there was going to be an inevitable clash between these two teams in the postseason. They’d have to settle things again in a short series. How could anything else happen? As we know, it was not inevitable at all. The Rays were bounced in two games by the Rangers, a team that had not occasioned as much thought in Birdland. Texas went on to shred the Orioles in three games and win the World Series.

If the Orioles don’t repeat as AL East champions in 2024, they’re going to be dueling with other teams across the AL for a wild card spot. Even…