1 Key Offensive Area Baltimore Orioles Must Improve In

May 18, 2026 - 01:18

The Baltimore Orioles have built one of the most exciting young lineups in baseball, but they still have a clear flaw that's holding them back. Despite ranking near the top of the league in home runs and slugging percentage, the team struggles mightily with situational hitting, specifically when it comes to advancing runners from scoring position with less than two outs.

Too often, the Orioles leave runners stranded on second or third base because they fail to put the ball in play. Their approach at the plate becomes too passive or too pull-happy, leading to strikeouts or weak fly balls that don't move the runner. This issue has cost them close games against playoff-caliber pitching, where a single sacrifice fly or a ground ball to the right side would have made the difference.

The problem isn't talent. Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Anthony Santander are all capable of driving in runs. But the lineup lacks a consistent contact-first hitter who can reliably put the ball in play when the team needs a single. The Orioles also struggle with bunting and hit-and-run execution, which are small-ball skills that become critical in tight October-style games.

If Baltimore wants to take the next step and compete for a championship, they need to improve their two-out hitting and their ability to manufacture runs without relying solely on the long ball. A few adjustments in approach and perhaps a roster tweak could turn this weakness into a strength.