Baltimore Orioles Secure Home-Start in 2024 MLB Playoffs, Despite Stronger Road Performance

The Baltimore Orioles have concluded the 2024 regular season on a high note with a successful 5-1 road trip against the playoff-bound New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. The Boston Orioles clinched a spot in the 2024 postseason on Tuesday night in the Bronx and secured the number four seed in the playoffs with a win in Minnesota on Friday. This ensures them a place in the best-of-three Wild Card series this year.

However, the advantage of opening the playoffs at home is under scrutiny, given the Orioles’ stronger performance away from home. Over the past two seasons, the Orioles have amassed a better winning record on the road compared to Camden Yards. In 2023, they posted a 52-29 record on the road, equating to a .642 winning percentage, while their home record was 49-32, or a .605 winning percentage. This disparity in performance was evident after enduring two home playoff losses to Texas, which culminated in a disappointing Game 3 in Arlington the previous year.

The trend continued into 2024, despite the Orioles winning ten fewer games than in 2023. They managed a 47-34 record away from Camden Yards, equating to a .575 winning percentage, while their home performance was 44-37, translating to a .540 winning percentage. Statistically, the Orioles scored 411 runs, including 121 home runs on the road, compared to 375 runs and 112 home runs at home. Although they maintained a lower ERA at home, opponents exhibited higher batting, on-base, slugging percentages, and overall OPS at Camden Yards.

The Orioles’ playoff history serves as a reminder of their struggles, having lost eight consecutive playoff games, with four of these losses occurring at home. Since their victory in Game 2 of the 2014 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, led by Delmon Young‘s pivotal double, the Orioles have not secured a home playoff win. Nevertheless, Orioles fans and the team remain optimistic about hosting the first game of the playoffs at Camden Yards this season.

Orioles’ fans can take solace in the good performances shown over the past two years at home, where the team has gone 93-69. Despite statistics showing stronger road results, these figures reflect the team’s competency on the road rather than inadequacy at home. As the playoffs kick off at Camden Yards on Tuesday, excitement among the Orioles faithful remains unabated.