Cedric Mullins is optimistic that O's can turn the corner this year

So they have started the year going 1-4 and have played four games decided by two runs or less against two teams that combined to win 195 games last year.

In the big picture of looking ahead to the six-month season, the Orioles are saying they expect to make progress this season and win more games. It's time for O's baseball to start trending up - brutal loss last night notwithstanding.

Hours before he would hit his first career grand slam on Tuesday night, O's star center fielder Cedric Mullins said he has heard O’s executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias talk with optimism about the 2022 Orioles taking steps forward and starting to turn the tide in their win-loss record.

Mullins believes Elias will be proven correct. He told me yesterday he sees this as a big year for the Orioles to show clear progress.

“I’d say it is (a big year for that)," he said. "The number of wins – I couldn’t tell you what that number is. But it’s the competitiveness I want. I want us to show we are more competitive. Closer games down to the wire. And there will be nights where we do pull out the win and nights where we don’t. But I do want to show the competitiveness we have as a group.

“I’d say it’s pretty big for the organization for there to be signs of progression. Even though we come in with a winning mindset every single year, the results have not panned out. But even if you look at the last few games (to start this year), couple of close games and games where we could have turned the table. When things really start to pick up, those will turn into comebacks and wins, and that is what we are playing for.”

Mullins said he is confident the progress will become evident over the course of this season.

“I really do believe that.,” he said. “The guys we have. The constant communication we have and we say we’re going to be competitive, not messing around and pushing for the wins every single day.”

Mullins has taken time to note that the Orioles’ farm system has been ranked No. 1 by ESPN, MLBPipeline.com and FanGraphs.com. He’s ready for some help from down below.

“It is exciting,” he said of the progress in the minors. “It’s a matter of, whenever those guys are ready and it’s their time to come up. Just a matter of the timing when those guys come and contribute. We have to hold down what we have with this group right now."

Mullins knows talk is cheap and wins will prove the Orioles are a better team.

“Yeah we 100 percent have to show that is true," he said of the team. "I think the vibe that we give off is intense, but not pressure. We know we have the capability of performing well and bringing wins to the team. It is about keeping that mindset to always play hard."

* Aberdeen wins again: The high Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds are now 4-0 after winning their home opener 7-6 over Wilmington last night. Coby Mayo's RBI double in the sixth gave Aberdeen the 7-6 lead and Colton Cowser added a two-run double earlier in the game.

Triple-A Norfolk won 3-1 at Scranton to improve to 4-3. In his season debut, right-hander Kyle Bradish continued to push for a spot on the staff in Baltimore. He threw four scoreless on 58 pitches, allowing two hits with no walks and six strikeouts.