5 of 5

The last reason why the Orioles will surpass the Yankees for the AL East division title is because they have the momentum on their side. They are playing so well, as they have the best record in all of baseball since July 26th. They are 25-13 since then, one game better than the Nationals.

Not to mention, the Birds have not made the playoffs since 1997, which is also the last time they won the East. This is the first time in a long time I’ve seen the Orioles play with this much enthusiasm and confidence.

It’s finally exciting to be an Orioles fan.

The Orioles have 22 games left this season and sit with 78 wins on the year. They need just three more victories to hit the .500 mark for the year and four more to ensure a winning season.

The Rays make their last visit to Camden Yards Tuesday night as they begin a three-game set before the Orioles head out West one last time. The Birds will face the Athletics, who are battling for the top Wild Card spot, this weekend.

However, after leaving Oakland, they travel to Seattle, where they should have no trouble at all. Then, they play the Red Sox, Blue Jays and the Red Sox over the next 10 games, and finish with a three-game series in Tampa Bay.

Now, the Birds have faced the Athletics twice this year and have split the series so far 3-3. In April, the Birds won the first series when the A’s were struggling, and they countered by winning the series at the end of July when the Birds were going through a rough patch. So, this series should be an interesting one and definitely has the possibly playoff ramifications.

The Birds have dominated the Mariners this season, as they took two out of three in Seattle and then swept them out of Baltimore in early August. The Orioles are 5-1 this year against the last-place Mariners and should not have any trouble.

The Birds have had the Red Sox's number all season long, as they have won nine of the 13 games between these two teams so far, and they have two series left. The Orioles should be able to win both these series.

Plus, the Birds are 9-5 against the Blue Jays and have a four-game series left in Baltimore. They should be able to win the series, and at worst, split the set.

Besides the A’s, the Rays are the team the Orioles need to focus on the rest of the month. The Black and Orange have split the season series with the Rays, as both teams have won six games with two series left to play.

Overall, the Orioles have been one of the hottest teams in the majors since the beginning of August, and they have somewhat light schedule the rest of the way. If they can continue to play well against the East teams, they should have a great shot at winning the division.

Follow me on twitter: @Alex_VanRees