UPS AND DOWNS
A look at which O’s players are trending upward, staying flat or slipping as the season reaches its halfway point
Wednesday night’s series finale for the Orioles in Houston not only ends a three-week stretch without a day off, but it delivers them to the season’s mathematical midpoint as their 81st game of the 162-game schedule.
At 26-54, the worst record in the American League, things often haven’t gone well for the collective. There are players who are shining through and players who are contributing to the losing in undesired ways.
Through the Orioles’ first 80 games of the season, here’s a breakdown of the players who have seen their stock rise, those who have stayed static and those who have dipped the most:
Orioles took him first overall in the 2019 draft, will be one of the biggest names in a game that is set to feature some potential elite talent, especially on the hitting side.
Rutschman is batting .287 with 11 home runs and a .946 OPS this season thanks to impressive plate discipline and an ability to drive the ball.
Diplán, who is currently on the temporary inactive list with Triple-A Norfolk, hasn’t pitched since June 19 but has a 2.57 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 14 innings over 11 appearances.
The 24-year-old right-hander was a top-10 prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers entering the 2017 season, but struggled to break through Double-A and bounced around a few clubs on waivers in 2019 before the Orioles claimed him from the Detroit Tigers during the winter meetings.