Jackson Holliday Comments on Baltimore Orioles 3-Game Win Streak

The Baltimore Orioles are starting to turn things around just in time for the American League playoff race. The organization traded off multiple core pieces of their lineup and pitching staff at this year's trade deadline.

Switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman was sent to the Boston Red Sox. Taylor Ward was dealt to the Seattle Mariners.

Relief pitcher Tyler Wells was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays and Dean Kremer was sent to the Minnesota Twins. Despite all of those moves, the Orioles have unexpectedly been playing better baseball.

After Sunday's win over the Rays, they improved their record to 61-63. While they are still under the .500 mark, in a weak American League that puts them in position to make the postseason if the season ended now.

They are currently in sole possession of the final wild card spot, but five teams sit less than two games behind them, meaning they have to sustain this momentum if they want to play baseball in October.

It is still exciting though to be in this position for a team that appeared to be waving the white flag just weeks ago. Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday had plenty to say about their recent success when speaking with reporters after Sunday's game.

"I think we're in a really cool spot, playing meaningful baseball and get to play against the best team in the American League. We've gotten after them the past three games, and we've been playing cool, fun games. It's exciting. We get to play for a chance for the playoffs, and I think everyone in here can feel that," Holliday said (h/t Jake Rill of MLB.com).

He continued, "We go out there and beat a good team three nights in a row, I don't think it's much of a fluke. We have a really good team, and we're going out there and showing it."

Holliday is right. Not only did the Orioles beat a good team in Tampa Bay, but they beat the team with the best record in the American League, a club likely earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. Beating that team three straight times is not an accident.

Holliday himself has not played particularly well in August, but July was a different story entirely. Across 23 appearances last month, he posted a .368 batting average, .500 on-base percentage and .921 OPS.

It has been a rough first three seasons in Baltimore for the former first overall pick, and this year has been especially frustrating after battling recurring issues with his right hamate bone that delayed his season debut until May.

But if he can get hot at the right time, he has a chance to completely rewrite the narrative surrounding him.