Game 103: Orioles (57-45) @ Mariners (53-50), 4:10 p.m. ET

How are the Orioles not a bigger story right now? I'm aware that I am biased on this front. but they are doing what very few people outside of Maryland expected them to do. They have a good lead in what was thought to be a tough divison once again in 2014.

They are in the same division as the defending champs and a wild card team from just a season ago. There was no way Chris Davis would repeat his 2013 campaign. Manny Machado suffered a horrific looking knee injury in the twilight of the season. And the pitching still lagged behind some of the big rivals.

And those pundits were right on a lot of fronts. Davis has struggled, Machado landed himself back on the bench right when he was getting hot, whether it be from a suspension or an injury. And the biggest signing, Ubaldo Jimenez, has flopped.

What is happening is such a better story than what was expected. Who tabbed Steve Pearce and Delmon Young as stalwarts off the bench? Or that Zach Britton would become the lock down closer that analysts said the Orioles needed all offseason? How about Wei-Yin Chen being tied for fourth in the league in wins? Oh yeah, and Darren O'Day has quietly been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.

This is a good time to be an Oriole fan. Perhaps a win today, locking up a winning record on the west coast will awaken those at ESPN and MLB Network to start paying attention to those Birds.

For a more in-depth look at today's game check out the game preview.