2021 Baltimore Orioles season

The 2021 Baltimore Orioles season was the 121st season in Baltimore Orioles franchise history, the 68th in Baltimore, and the 30th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. With a final record of , the team significantly failed to improve on their record from the previous year. The Orioles endured two different losing streaks of 14 or more between the middle and the end of May, as well as between August 3 and August 24. The Orioles pitching staff combined for an all-time franchise-worst earned run average (ERA) of 5.84 and yielded 911 earned runs in the season, which led MLB and was the most earned runs surrendered by a pitching staff since the 2001 Texas Rangers allowed 913 earned runs. According to Baseball Reference, 25 pitchers finished with negative wins above replacement (WAR), the most in MLB history. This broke the previous record of 22, which was set by the 2019 Orioles. All of the team's pitchers that made a start finished the season with a losing record. The Orioles were eliminated from playoff contention on August 28 with their loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. They suffered their 3rd 100+ loss season in four years with their loss to the Boston Red Sox on September 17. With the Orioles loss in the season finale against the Blue Jays, they suffered their second 110-loss season in team history; it was also the third such season in overall franchise history, going back to their time as the St. Louis Browns.

Despite the team's atrocious performance, Trey Mancini, who missed the 2020 season with colon cancer, won the AL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Regular season standings

American League East

American League Wild Card

Orioles team leaders Batting Batting average Cedric Mullins .291 RBIs Ryan Mountcastle 89 Home runs 33 Runs scored Cedric Mullins 91 Stolen bases 30Pitching Wins John MeansMatt Harvey 6 ERA John Means 3.62 WHIP 1.03 Strikeouts John Means 134 Saves Cole SulserCésar Valdez 8 Updated through game of October 3.

Minimum 3.1 plate appearances per team games played AVG qualified batters: Mullins, Mountcastle, Mancini, Hays

Minimum 1 inning pitched per team games played ERA & WHIP qualified pitchers: No qualifiers

Record vs. opponents

Game log Past games legend Orioles Win Orioles Loss Game postponed Eliminated from playoff contention Bold denotes an Orioles pitcher

|- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 1 || @ Red Sox || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain). Makeup date April 2. |- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 2 || @ Red Sox || 3–0 || Means (1–0) || Eovaldi (0–1) || Valdez (1) || 4,452 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 3 || @ Red Sox || 4–2 || Plutko (1–0) || Houck (0–1) || Valdez (2) || 4,571 || 2–0 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 4 || @ Red Sox || 11–3 || Zimmermann (1–0) || Richards (0–1) || — || 4,458 || 3–0 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 5 || @ Yankees || 0–7 || Montgomery (1–0) || López (0–1) || — || 9,008 || 3–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 6 || @ Yankees || 2–7 || Cole (1–0) || Kremer (0–1) || — || 9,404 || 3–2 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 7 || @ Yankees || 4–3 || Valdez (1–0) || Green (0–1) || Fry (1) || 10,254 || 4–2 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 8 || Red Sox || 3–7 || Rodríguez (1–0) || Harvey (0–1) || — || 10,150 || 4–3 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 10 || Red Sox || 4–6 || Barnes (1–0) || Tate (0–1) || Andriese (1) || 9,307 || 4–4 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 11 || Red Sox || 9–14 || Pivetta (2–0) || López (0–2) || — || 8,171 || 4–5 || L3 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 12 || Mariners || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain). Makeup date April 13 as part of doubleheader. |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 13 || Mariners || 3–4 || Montero (1–0) || Scott (0–1) || Graveman (1) || 4,147 || 4–6 || L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 13 || Mariners || 7–6 || Valdez (2–0) || Sadler (0–1) || — || 4,147 || 5–6 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || April 14 || Mariners || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain). Makeup date April 15 as part of doubleheader. |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 15 || Mariners || 2–4 || Gonzales (1–1) || Scott (0–2) || Graveman (2) || 5,060 || 5–7 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 15 || Mariners || 1–2 || Dunn (1–0) || Zimmermann (1–1) || Middleton (2) || 5,060 || 5–8 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 16 || @ Rangers || 5–2 || López (1–2) || Foltynewicz (0–3) || Valdez (3) || 22,173 || 6–8 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 15 || April 17 || @ Rangers || 6–1 || Lakins (1–0) || Rodríguez (0–1) || — || 29,338 || 7–8 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 18 || @ Rangers || 0–1 || King (1–0) || Lakins (1–1) || — || 24,267 || 7–9 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 20 || @ Marlins || 7–5 || Harvey (1–1) || Neidert (0–1) || Valdez (4) || 4,540 || 8–9 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 21 || @ Marlins || 0–3 || Rogers (1–2) || Zimmermann (1–2) || García (4) || 4,028 || 8–10 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 23 || Athletics || 1–3 || Irvin (2–2) || López (1–3) || Diekman (2) || 7,574 || 8–11 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 24 || Athletics || 2–7 || Bassitt (2–2) || LeBlanc (0–1) || — || 7,616 || 8–12 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 25 || Athletics || 8–1 || Means (2–0) || Luzardo (1–2) || — || 8,107 || 9–12 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || April 26 || Yankees || 4–2 || Harvey (2–1) || García (0–1) || Valdez (5) || 6,367 || 10–12 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || April 27 || Yankees || 1–5 || Kluber (1–2) || Zimmermann (1–3) || — || 6,662 || 10–13 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 28 || Yankees || 0–7 || Germán (2–2) || Kremer (0–2) || — || 7,338 || 10–14 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || April 29 || Yankees || 4–3 || Scott (1–2) || Loaisiga (2–1) || — || 7,738 || 11–14 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || April 30 || @ Athletics || 3–2 || Means (3–0) || Fiers (0–1) || Valdez (6) || 5,777 || 12–14 || W2

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || May 1 || @ Athletics || 8–4 || Harvey (3–1) || Luzardo (1–3) || — || 6,469 || 13–14 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 2 || @ Athletics || 5–7 || Petit (4–0) || Lakins (1–2) || Trivino (5) || 5,862 || 13–15 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 29 || May 3 || @ Mariners || 5–3 || Sulser (1–0) || Misiewicz (2–1) || Valdez (7) || 5,776 || 14–15 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 4 || @ Mariners || 2–5 || Montero (3–1) || Lakins (1–3) || — || 6,504 || 14–16 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 5 || @ Mariners || 6–0 || Means (4–0) || Kikuchi (1–2) || — || 6,742 || 15–16 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || May 7 || Red Sox || 2–6 || Rodríguez (5–0) || Harvey (3–2) || — || 7,724 || 15–17 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || May 8 || Red Sox || 6–11 || Richards (2–2) || Lowther (0–1) || — || 10,598 || 15–18 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 9 || Red Sox || 3–4 || Pivetta (5–0) || Kremer (0–3) || Barnes (8) || 10,274 || 15–19 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || May 10 || Red Sox || 4–1 || Scott (2–2) || Andriese (1–2) || Valdez (8) || 6,826 || 16–19 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 11 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Familia (1–0) || Valdez (2–1) || — || 7,930 || 16–20 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 12 || @ Mets || 1–7 || Walker (3–1) || Harvey (3–3) || — || 8,035 || 16–21 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 14 || Yankees || 4–5 || Kluber (3–2) || Lakins (1–4) || Loáisiga (2) || 10,809 || 16–22 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || May 15 || Yankees || 2–8 || Germán (3–2) || López (1–4) || — || 10,767 || 16–23 || L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 || May 16 || Yankees || 10–6 || Zimmermann (2–3) || King (0–1) || — || 11,070 || 17–23 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 18 || Rays || 6–13 || Kittredge (4–0) || Harvey (3–4) || — || 5,429 || 17–24 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || May 19 || Rays || 7–9 || Thompson (3–2) || Fry (0–1) || Fairbanks (1) || 6,581 || 17–25 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 43 || May 20 || Rays || 1–10 || Hill (3–1) || Kremer (0–4) || — || 6,916 || 17–26 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 44 || May 21 || @ Nationals || 2–4 || Strasburg (1–1) || López (1–5) || — || 14,369 || 17–27 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 45 || May 22 || @ Nationals || 9–12 || Hudson (3–0) || Plutko (1–1) || Hand (6) || 15,440 || 17–28 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || May 23 || @ Nationals || 5–6 || Corbin (3–3) || Harvey (3–5) || Hand (7) || 14,618 || 17–29 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 47 || May 24 || @ Twins || 3–8 || Alcalá (1–1) || Scott (2–3) || — || 8,530 || 17–30 || L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 48 || May 25 || @ Twins || 4–7 || Berríos (5–2) || Kremer (0–5) || Rogers (3) || 9,969 || 17–31 || L8 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || May 26 || @ Twins || 2–3 || Pineda (3–2) || López (1–6) || Robles (3) || 10,574 || 17–32 || L9 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 27 || @ White Sox || 1–5 || Cease (3–1) || Tate (0–2) || — || 9,671 || 17–33 || L10 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 28 || @ White Sox || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain). Makeup date May 29 as part of doubleheader. |- style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || May 29 || @ White Sox || 4–7 || Keuchel (4–1) || Harvey (3–6) || Hendriks (11) || 20,029 || 17–34 || L11 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || May 29 || @ White Sox || 1–3 || Lynn (6–1) || Means (4–1) || Hendriks (12) || 20,029 || 17–35 || L12 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 53 || May 30 || @ White Sox || 1–3 || Giolito (5–4) || Tate (0–3) || Hendriks (13) || 21,067 || 17–36 || L13 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || May 31 || Twins || 2–3 || Rogers (3–3) || Plutko (1–2) || Robles (4) || 11,010 || 17–37 || L14

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 55 || June 1 || Twins || 7–4 || Zimmermann (3–3) || Pineda (3–3) || Sulser (1) || 5,337 || 18–37 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 56 || June 2 || Twins || 6–3 || T. Wells (1–0) || Dobnak (1–5) || — || 5,945 || 19–37 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || June 4 || Indians || 3–1 || Sulser (2–0) || Shaw (1–1) || Fry (2) || 12,009 || 20–37 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 58 || June 5 || Indians || 4–10 || Civale (8–2) || Means (4–2) || — || 9,969 || 20–38 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || June 6 || Indians || 18–5 || López (2–6) || Quantrill (0–2) || — || 9,423 || 21–38 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 60 || June 8 || Mets || 10–3 || Zimmermann (4–3) || Peterson (1–5) || — || 9,431 || 22–38 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 9 || Mets || 1–14 || Walker (5–2) || Harvey (3–7) || — || 9,584 || 22–39 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 62 || June 11 || @ Rays || 2–4 || Yarbrough (4–3) || Akin (0–1) || Fairbanks (2) || 6,211 || 22–40 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 12 || @ Rays || 4–5 || McHugh (1–1) || López (2–7) || Castillo (11) || 9,225 || 22–41 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 13 || @ Rays || 1–7 || Fleming (6–4) || Zimmermann (4–4) || — || 9,101 || 22–42 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 14 || @ Indians || 3–4 || Sandlin (1–0) || Kremer (0–6) || Clase (10) || 11,181 || 22–43 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 15 || @ Indians || 2–7 || Karinchak (4–2) || Harvey (3–8) || — || 12,025 || 22–44 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 16 || @ Indians || 7–8 || Civale (10–2) || Akin (0–2) || Clase (11) || 12,825 || 22–45 || L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || June 17 || @ Indians || 3–10 || Stephan (1–0) || López (2–8) || — || 15,121 || 22–46 || L8 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 67 || June 18 || Blue Jays || 7–1 || T. Wells (2–0) || Ray (4–3) || — || 13,284 || 23–46 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 19 || Blue Jays || 7–10 || Romano (4–1) || Fry (0–2) || — || 10,721 || 23–47 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 71 || June 20 || Blue Jays || 4–7 || Ryu (6–4) || Harvey (3–9) || Chatwood (1) || 14,917 || 23–48 || L2