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However, the second half of the season told a different story. The Orioles' pitching staff, outside of ace Corbin Burns, struggled mightily. The bullpen missed the presence of injured closer Felix Bautista, and the offense, led by the disappointing seasons of Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle, sputtered down the stretch.
The Orioles ultimately lost the AL East division to the resurgent Yankees by just three games, a margin that could have been overcome had they maintained their first-half dominance.
Postseason Collapse
The Orioles' playoff run was short-lived, as they were quickly swept by the Royals in the opening round. Corbin Burns pitched a gem in Game 1, but the offense failed to provide any support, scoring just a single run in the two-game series.