A Big Eflin Deal

 

I was thinking about something yesterday as Connor Norby hit two home runs against Seth Johnson in Miami. Norby, an Orioles prospect traded for Trevor Rogers due to having no space to play in Baltimore, was succeeding for the Marlins, while Johnson, an Orioles prospect traded for Austin Hays due to having no space to play in Baltimore, failed to even strike anybody out. 

An Orioles prospect teeing off an Orioles prospect...at the expense of the Philadelphia Phillies. And then I thought about it, and...Zach Eflin, Seranthony Dominguez, Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto are now playing for Baltimore, and some of the only prospects the Orioles gave up this year are actively hurting the Phillies. So maybe THAT was why they traded for Trevor Rogers. So it would set off a domino effect that ended in misery for Phillies fans. 

...shame the Ravens didn't benefit from this plan, but there ya go.

Anyway, despite sitting a half game behind the Yankees for the division, the Orioles are looking very good rounding the last few weeks of the season. A lot of the momentum from the oncoming former Philadelphia residents may have helped. As I predicted, Seranthony Dominguez figured out whatever was ailing him in Philly and has a 2.76 ERA in 16 appearances. Zach Eflin's first six starts as a member of the Orioles have been excellent, going 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 38 Ks. He's reaching legitimacy he only flirted with in Tampa this year, and is the kind of rotation addition the O's wish Jack Flaherty was last year. Craig Kimbrel does continue to be an issue in the ninth, but every so often he'll channel his former glory for a save. 

And now aiding the already strong central core of the lineup are people like Eloy Jimenez, who's hitting .268 and has become a beloved power player off the bench, and Austin Slater, who's .295 and is doing the exact kind of sneaky contact stuff that made him a favorite in San Francisco. Plus, both Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson are chasing 40 home runs. Two Orioles from very different parts of the rebuild, uniting to hit home runs and have excellent seasons. Colton Cowser really has turned into a nice everyday outfield bat, and he might get some ROY votes this year. And Holliday, even as he does run from his April stats, does seem like the guy going forward. 

The Orioles are good right now, though they have lost some recent games against mediocre opponents. A lot of divisional matchups lay ahead, including against the Yankees and Red Sox, and by the time they finish with the Twins they'll have needed to sustain some section of the momentum. I do not want to see these guys make another easy exit from the playoffs. They are too much fun for this. 

Coming Tonight: As a late injury return, he could be the difference-maker in the quest for the last playoff spot.