The Orioles Historically-Bad Streak Continues

 

Not only have the Baltimore Orioles been losing—regularly—but they've been losing in historic fashion. On Sunday, the Orioles extended the 2nd-longest losing streak in club history to 18 straight games (6th longest of the modern era by any team). But a look inside the numbers reveals even more sorry statistics. 

This is how bad the losing has become: As noted by The Athletic's Jayson Stark, the Orioles were outscored in the first 15 losses of this current streak 138-42. That's a minus-96. There has not been a run differential of minus-96 or worse over a 15-game stretch since 1899. Yes, that's 122 years ago. The Cleveland Spiders pulled off that feat...and then disbanded after the 1899 season. 

At this pace—a .309 win percentage, 38-85 record—the Orioles are on pace for a 50-112 record. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, they would become the first team in almost 60 years to lose at least 108 games (.333 winning % or worse) in three straight full seasons since the infamous 1962-65 New York Mets (and the Mets did it 4 seasons in a row, for good measure). 

It's the longest losing streak in MLB since 2005, when the Kansas City Royals lost 19 straight. The Orioles are now just 3 losses short of their own nasty 21-game losing streak of 1988, which currently stands as the 2nd worst in the modern era. Here's where this year's birds stand on that all-time losers list:

  • 23 straight losses—1961 Philadelphia Phillies
  • 21 — 1988 Baltimore Orioles
  • 20 — 1969 Montreal Expos
  • 19 — 2005 KC Royals
  • 19 — 1975 Detroit Tigers
  • 18 — 2021 Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles start a 3-game set at home vs. the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. If they don't win one of those, they are in danger of a new record, as they'll face the 1st-place Tampa Bay Rays for a 3-game set after that. 

Photo Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports