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Remember how seemingly everyone thought the Orioles lucked their way into the postseason three years ago and they were destined to crawl back into the nether reaches of the American League East? I think we owe the O's an apology. They made it all the way to the AL Championship Series last season, and their 96-66 regular season marked their third straight winning campaign.

The Orioles were synonymous with slugging, running away with the major league lead in homers with 211, but they featured a well-balanced attack. The team ranked ninth in batting average and eighth in runs scored, and though they lacked a big-name ace, they ranked seventh in team ERA. Nelson Cruz paced the offense with his 40 home runs and 108 RBI, and Adam Jones and Nick Markakis continued their long-standing pattern of steady production. In fact, Jones was a top 10 outfielder in Fantasy points for the third straight season. Unexpectedly, Steve Pearce was a key part of the lineup, and he helped to offset disappointing seasons from Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy and injury-shortened campaigns from Matt Wieters and Manny Machado.

While the staff as a whole was among the most effective in the majors, it was the bullpen that truly excelled, compiling a 3.10 ERA. Closer Zach Britton set to the tone, nailing down 37 saves while putting up a 1.65 ERA, and Darren O'Day and Andrew Miller (acquired at the July 31 trade deadline from the Red Sox) were among the most valuable non-closer relievers. Among the starters, though, only Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman posted ERAs under 3.50. Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris pitched decently and rode healthy levels of run support to win 16 and 15 games.

While the rotation, which also includes 24-year-old Kevin Gausman, will remain intact, Cruz, Markakis and Miller have all been lost to free agency. Travis Snider, acquired this offseason from the Pirates, and Alejandro De Aza, picked up late last season from the White Sox, will be entrusted to hold down the outfield corners. Neither is likely to match the production of their predecessors and both are fringy as options for standard mixed league owners. The offense might not miss a beat, though, as the return of Machado and Wieters could compensate for a relative lack of outfield production. Both could be ready for opening day, though neither has a definite timetable to return.

Observers might look at the departures of Cruz and Markakis and wonder how the Orioles will contend, but they've surprised us before. Wieters and Machado will be keys to the team's success, but bounceback years from Davis and Hardy wouldn't hurt either. There's room for the rotation to improve as well, and strong finishes by Tillman, Gonzalez and Gausman could bode well for better year-end numbers in 2015. We should know by now not to count the Orioles out, and individually, several members of the current squad could help you make it to your Fantasy postseason as well.

2015 projected lineup

1. Alejandro De Aza, LF
2. Manny Machado, 3B
3. Adam Jones, CF
4. Chris Davis, 1B
5. Steve Pearce, DH
6. Travis Snider, RF
7. J.J. Hardy, SS
8. Caleb Joseph, C
9. Jonathan Schoop, 2B
BENCH: Ryan Flaherty 2B/3B
BENCH: Delmon Young, OF
DL: Matt Wieters, C

2015 projected rotation

1. Chris Tillman, RHP
2. Wei-Yin Chen, LHP
3. Bud Norris, RHP
4. Miguel Gonzalez, RHP
5. Kevin Gausman, RHP
ALT: Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP

2015 projected bullpen

1. Zach Britton, LHP
2. Tommy Hunter, RHP
3. Darren O'Day, RHP
4. Brian Matusz, LHP
5. Brad Brach, RHP

Bounceback candidate ... Chris Davis, first base/third base

Feeling hesitant about giving Davis a second chance? It's understandable. After suffering through his .196 batting average and seemingly endless strikeouts, most people would just want the pain to end for good. Even in last season's darkest days, Davis provided home run power, and it seems odd that his ability to make contact and get hits on balls in play would decrease so much in one season. Davis claims that the after-effects of his early-season oblique injury plagued him all year, and it's plausible to think that had an impact. Also, getting a therapeutic use exemption for Adderall could help, as Davis has claimed that it aids his concentration. Enough owners could be hesitant to draft Davis this season, so he could be a cheap source of extraordinary power.

Breakout ... Kevin Gausman, starting pitcher

While many had looked for Gausman to make a splash in 2013, he didn't get his first real shot in the Orioles' rotation until last year, making 20 starts. To look at his final stat line -- 7-7 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 113 1/3 innings, it would seem that Gausman was a long way from breaking out. For most of the season, Gausman was plagued with poor control, throwing 59 percent of his pitches for strikes through his first 13 starts. That inflated his walk rate, and apparently, batters could readily recognize his strikes, as he coaxed called strikes on just 15 percent of his pitches during that stretch. All of that changed dramatically over his final seven starts, as his strikes-thrown rate shot up to 66 percent, and he posted a 40-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 40 1/3 innings. Gausman had been a reliable strike-thrower in the minors, so this could be a change that sticks. If so, he could be a must-start option, but you likely won't have to use more than a late-round pick to get him.

Impact prospect ... Dylan Bundy, starting pitcher

Bundy's return from Tommy John surgery was underwhelming, as he struggled with command against hitters in the lower minors, and then he was shut down in August due to a strained lat. This season will provide a better indication of Bundy's readiness to make his debut in the Orioles' rotation (he made two relief appearances in 2012), as he is expected to begin the year at Double-A Bowie. Not only was Bundy dominant in the minors before his surgery, but if he returns to form, opportunity should not be a problem. Of the current starters, only Tillman is out of options, and it's not hard to see a protracted slump landing either Norris or Gonzalez in the bullpen or minors. Bundy is enough of a wild card that he doesn't need to be drafted in most mixed leagues, but his potential to make an impact is sufficiently high that owners should monitor him closely as a possible waiver pickup.

Prospects Report

• Hunter Harvey, SP: Harvey's first year in a full-season circuit can be deemed a success, as he posted a 3.18 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings. It's likely on to the Advanced Class A Carolina League for Harvey, so don't look for him in Baltimore this season. He should be worth the wait, though, as a dynasty league stashee.

• Christian Walker, 1B: Walker had his first cup of coffee with the Orioles last season after experiencing a power breakout, first at Double-A Bowie and then at Triple-A Norfolk. If Davis or Pearce succumbs to injury, Walker is just a phone call away and could be useful in AL-only leagues.

• Chance Sisco, C: Sisco blew up the Sally League as a 19-year-old with a .340/.406/.448 slash line. Plenty of highly-touted catchers have fallen by the wayside as they make their climb through the minors, but Sisco's off to a start that should reassure dynasty league owners.

• Dariel Alvarez, OF: A highly aggressive hitter, Alvarez doesn't project to get on base much, but he hits for a high average and showed some power last season. The Cuban defector appeared to be in line to compete for a starting job until the Orioles signed Snider. Alvarez could still be a factor in AL-only leagues if injuries strike and he gets the call.

• Zach Davies, SP: Davies doesn't profile to be an exciting pitcher, but there's something to be said for someone who is a decent strikeout pitcher with good control who is close to major league ready. I could see him as this season's Jesse Hahn -- someone who gets a surprise callup and makes the most of it.

• Jason Garcia, SP: Garcia was a Rule 5 pick for the Orioles this offseason, so he has a shot to spend the full season with the big club, even though he has yet to pitch above Class A. It's worth checking out Kiley McDaniels' scouting report on Garcia on FanGraphs, but the takeaway for Fantasy owners is that he has much better stuff since returning from Tommy John surgery last season. The story behind the Orioles' selection of him in the Rule 5 draft, as related by McDaniels, makes for a pretty interesting read.