Baltimore Orioles Weekly Activity Report (WAR): August 20-September 2

Last week we launched the Baltimore Orioles Weekly Activity Report (WAR).

This WAR provides readers key Orioles analysis from last week’s play, and also gives a synopsis of what to expect in the upcoming week. Readers will also receive various tidbits to paint a balanced picture of the Orioles’ state of affairs.

That said, here is the O's WAR for August 20-September 2.

Week in Review (August 20-26)

With a day off Thursday and a rained out game Sunday versus the Toronto Blue Jays (to be made up on Monday, September 24), the Orioles went 3-2 last week.

While Baltimore lost two out of three to the Texas Rangers, it secured its 23rd series win of the season against Toronto. Per the MLB Network, this is the most series wins by the Orioles in a season since 1998.

On the year, the Orioles are now 69-57. With this record, Baltimore has tied the total number of victories the 2011 team had. That team ended up finishing the season on September 28 with a 69-93 record (yet the Orioles 69th win was the big blow that knocked the Boston Red Sox out of the postseason).

Over the last seven days, the Orioles batted .243 with seven home runs and 31 RBI. Baltimore’s pitching staff had a 4.87 ERA, a big chunk of which came from the Orioles' 12-3 loss to the Rangers on August 22.

Defensively, the Orioles committed just one error in five games. The week prior to that, Baltimore committed four.

Game of the week: (August 24) Chris Smacks Three Bombs, Sparks Scary Irony.

Weekly Orioles Statistics

Here are stats for regular batters in Orioles' lineup the last seven games. You will see some key players heating up at the right time.

PLAYER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Markakis	23	9	1	1	0	5	2	2	.391	.423	.522	.945
Hardy	21	8	4	0	1	5	0	4	.381	.409	.714	1.123
McLouth	23	6	1	1	1	4	3	5	.261	.346	.522	.868
Jones	25	6	1	0	0	4	1	8	.240	.269	.280	.549
Wieters	18	1	1	0	0	0	0	7	.056	.050	.056	.107
Davis	19	6	0	0	4	5	0	7	.316	.350	.947	1.297
Reynolds	18	5	0	0	0	0	5	4	.278	.435	.278	.713
Quintanilla	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	.000	.111	.000	.000
Machado	21	4	0	1	0	2	0	6	.190	.190	.286	.476

Here are stats for top performing Orioles' pitchers in the same time frame.

PLAYER	G	W	L	ERA	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	AVG	WHIP
Tillman	1	1	0	4.05	6.2	6	3	1	7	.231	1.05
Britton	1	1	0	2.70	6.2	4	2	2	0	.167	0.90
Johnson	2	1	0	3.86	7.0	6	3	2	8	.250	1.14
O'Day	3	0	0	0.00	1.1	3	0	0	1	.250	1.00
Strop	3	0	0	0.00	3.0	0	0	2	4	.000	0.67
Ayala	3	0	0	0.00	4.0	4	0	1	1	.267	1.25
Johnson	3	0	0	0.00	3.0	0	0	0	4	0.00	0.00

The Week Ahead (August 27-September 2)

Baltimore kicks off this week on Monday, with a big four-game series (August 27-30) against the Chicago White Sox at Camden Yards.

Friday, the Orioles begin an even more critical three-game series in New York versus the Yankees.

Team Injury Report

Per MLB.com, Wilson Betemit (wrist) may begin a rehab assignment on August 28. Jim Thome (neck) had a setback and may need a second epidural injection.

Jason Hammel (knee) threw a two-inning simulated game on August 24. It is possible he may return to the rotation in early September (per MLB.com).  

Minor League Performer of Week 

Ty Kelly (24-year-old Outfielder, Bowie Baysox):

Last 10 Games:

AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
42	16	4	2	0	7	5	4	0	.381	.447	.571	1.018

Season (124 games):

AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
440	146	27	2	10	65	73	66	3	.332	.428	.470	.899

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