Cleveland Indians: The 5 Most Important Series of 2017

@Orioles (June 19-22)

The Indians were simply terrible in 2016 against the Baltimore Orioles. They went 1-5 overall and lost all three games in Baltimore. Oddly enough, most of these games were close contests.

The Tribe was only outscored 31-25 in the season series against the Orioles, but this looks a lot closer due to the 11 runs scored in the Indians’ one win.

The Indians let the Orioles score five runs in all three home contests and this cannot happen again in 2017. In the two home losses to Baltimore, the Orioles scored six runs. Even in the Indians’ win, the Orioles scored four runs.

The Indians found every way to lose games against Baltimore last season with the lowest point coming in a walk-off home run in the ninth with two outs. This was definitely one of Cody Allen’s lowest moments of the season.

The Orioles may not be in the Indians’ division, but they hope to contend in the American League East against the Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays. The Indians must win all their division games, but to gather the best record in the MLB, they have to beat semi-good teams like the Orioles.

With this series so early in the season, and with the way the Indians played on the road versus at home, they must find a way to squeak out a few more wins against teams that are not among the top teams. The Orioles are by no means bad, but they are much more beatable on a daily basis than the Red Sox or other top teams.

The Indians have to beat these teams throughout the entire season if they hope to regain their AL crown.