The Orioles are outperforming preseason expectations. As it stands, they are on pace for 74 wins, and could do even better than that with promotions and a kinder schedule moving forward. Even still, it would be a stretch to refer to them as a “contenders.”
Much of that is a result of the team’s difficult circumstances. If the playoffs started today, the four teams in front of the Orioles in the AL East would all be in. Meanwhile the 34-40 O’s would be left to dream about life in another division. They would be in at least fourth place in every other division in baseball right now, and would be as high as third in the NL Central.