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It’s been a long and arduous journey for Matt Wieters to return to the Baltimore Orioles‘ lineup. After undergoing reconstructive surgery on his elbow nearly a year ago, Wieters played in his first game of 2015 last night and immediately made an impact. He collected two hits and two RBIs while catching all nine innings as Baltimore defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-2. His return comes at an opportune time for a ball club that was reeling and in serious need of some offense.
The Orioles (25-29) are currently in fourth place in the AL East, a division that Baltimore ran away with last season. There are a multitude of reasons why Baltimore hasn’t performed to its potential to this point, but the most recent problem is a lack of hitting. The Orioles are currently 10th in the American League in runs scored, and are 11th in hits. This is somewhat of a surprise for a team that’s had one of the more potent lineups in the league for the past few years. Having Wieters back in the middle of the order will certainly help Baltimore turn things around offensively.
Not only will Wieters’ return boost the Baltimore offense, but it will also help a pitching staff that’s been erratic at times this season. The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner is one of the game’s best defensive catchers and is a calming presence behind the plate for the Orioles’ pitchers. Wieters has established chemistry with many of the Baltimore pitchers, including last night’s starter Chris Tillman. The Orioles’ proverbial ace snapped a six-game losing streak with last night’s victory, his first win since April 18. Baltimore’s staff will be more comfortable now that their security blanket is back behind the plate.
Last night’s game was the first time this season that the Orioles core group of Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy and Wieters were all on the field together. Baltimore is finally back at full strength and is ready to make noise at the AL East — a division that’s been weak and wide open. If everyone stays healthy, the Orioles should be able to defend their division title and make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Ben Linton is an MLB writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @Ben_Linton91, or add him to your network on Google.
