Insider Makes Bold Claim After Baltimore Orioles' Dominant Start

An MLB insider gave his takeaways from the Baltimore Orioles' first series of the season and makes a bold claim about what they can accomplish this year.

Mar 30, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) ruins to third base after hitting a first inning home run against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles started the season in an impressive way, winning two out of three against the Los Angeles Angels.

Not completing the sweep should have the club ready to go against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, but the Orioles still accomplished what they needed to do on Opening Weekend.

In fact, there’s an argument to be made that Baltimore showed they’ll be a better team this season than they were in 2023. With an impressive 11-3 win against the Angels in Game 1 of the series, backed by Corbin Burnes throwing six innings of one-run baseball with 11 strikeouts, it’s clear they found the ace they were searching for.

If Burnes can continue to throw the way he has for the better half of his career, the Orioles will instantly be a better team than they were last year without even factoring in improvements from many of the young talents across their roster. 

Will Leitch of MLB.com released his one Opening Weekend takeaway for each team, writing that Baltimore is a team to look out for when everything’s clicking. He highlights the 24 runs the offense scored in two games, as well as Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez dominating on the mound.

He then goes on to write they look like a team that wins more than 101 games, which was good enough for them to win the American League East by two games last season.

"A 4-1 loss to the Angels on Sunday shouldn't obscure just how dominant the Orioles looked in their first two victories in that series. The offense scored 24 runs, Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez had fantastic starts and the Camden Yards crowd didn't stop screaming all weekend. Those Orioles looked like they could win 101 games again this year. In fact, they looked like they could win more."

This three-game series against the Royals should serve well for the Orioles, giving them another opportunity to win a series in the early stage of the season.