How they were built: Orioles

MLBPipeline.com is breaking down how each of the playoff teams was built, looking at the composition of projected Division Series rosters.

For the third time in five years, the Baltimore Orioles are in the postseason.

Overview The architects NATIONAL LEAGUE Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers New York Mets San Francisco Giants Washington Nationals AMERICAN LEAGUE Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Cleveland Indians Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays

The Orioles got hot at the right time down the stretch, winning their final five road series and seven of their last nine games to claim the second American League Wild Card spot with an 89-73 overall record.

That Baltimore’s core position players remained healthy was a major reason that the club finished with a Major League-leading 253 home runs, the most since the Blue Jays went deep 256 times in 2010. They had six players finish with at least 20 home runs, with Mark Trumbo leading the way with an MLB-best 47, and all but one of them logged at least 152 games played.

Furthermore, it was the Orioles’ robust offense that helped to compensate for a starting rotation that ranked 13th in the AL in both ERA (4.72) and WHIP (1.41). Baltimore’s bullpen also was key to the club’s success, as it paced the circuit with a 3.40 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .243 average.

Here’s a look at how each player on the O’s projected Division Series roster was initially acquired during his current stint with the club:

HOMEGROWNPlayer, how acquired, year:Zach Britton, Draft, 2006 (3rd)Dylan Bundy, Draft, 2011 (1st)Kevin Gausman, Draft, 2012 (1st)Mychal Givens, Draft, 2009 (2nd)Donnie Hart, Draft, 2013 (27th)Hyun Soo Kim, Int’l sign, 2015Caleb Joseph, Draft, 2008 (7th)Manny Machado, Draft, 2010 (1st)Jonathan Schoop, Int’l sign, 2008Matt Wieters, Draft, 2007 (1st)

Tied for the most homegrown talent on a projected playoff roster with 10 players, the Orioles’ roster is testimony to …

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