(Sports Network) - Even at this rather early stage of the season, many baseball observers probably had pegged the Baltimore Orioles to be hopelessly languishing in the American League East basement and about to embark on another long and dreadful summer for this once-proud franchise.

Instead, the team just about everyone had dead and buried is very much alive right now. The Orioles' current 23-20 record is noticeably better than that of the star-studded New York Yankees and just three games worse than what the defending world champion Boston Red Sox have compiled thus far.

Baltimore has discovered a winning formula consisting of strong leadership from blue-collar manager Dave Trembley, sound fundamental play and the unexpected dependability of a pitching staff that's performed far better than any of us could have imagined.

Guys like George Sherrill, Jim Johnson, Daniel Cabrera, Brian Burres and Garrett Olson weren't on too many fantasy players' radar heading into this season. Yet each of those relative unknowns have made sizeable contributions to the Orioles' successful early-season run.

Sherrill, one of the five players acquired from Seattle in the unpopular offseason trade that sent ace pitcher Erik Bedard to the Mariners, has been rock-solid in his first full-time role as a major-league closer. But the biggest surprise of a revamped and upgraded Baltimore bullpen has been Johnson, a converted starter who didn't even make the big club out of spring training.

The 24-year-old rookie has thrived as Sherrill's primary setup man and been close to unhittable over the majority of his 16 appearances. In 24 total innings of work, Johnson has yielded a mere three runs and limited enemy hitters to a miniscule .138 average.

Johnson's signature moment came during last Tuesday's 5-4 home victory over the Red Sox. He stepped into a bases-loaded, no-out jam with the O's clinging to a two-run lead in the seventh inning and perennial All-Star Manny Ramirez at the plate. The two dueled through a tense 10-pitch battle that ended when Ramirez grounded back to the mound to start a potential gave-saving double play.

"He worked a pitching miracle right there," winning pitcher Jeremy Guthrie told the team's official site following the game. "He didn't give in to (Ramirez) and he executed a lot of difficult pitches. That's the thing that's so difficult. He didn't throw three or four pitches and get a come-backer."

Cabrera is likely the most well-known of the above-mentioned group, although not exactly for the most desirable of reasons. The towering Dominican has always had the stuff associated with a 15-game winner, but a penchant for walking hitters and a reputation as a hot-head who easily can be thrown off his game had prevented the hard-throwing righty from realizing his vast potential.

This season, the soon-to-be 27-year-old has displayed considerably better poise and command of the strike zone, and those improvements have been reflected in the 4-1 record and 3.58 earned run average Cabrera carries through his first nine starts.

Burres, a typical touch-and-feel type of left-hander, was an unimpressive 6-8 with a 5.95 ERA as a rookie last season but has managed to keep the Orioles in just about all of his starts this year. And the 24-year-old Olson (3-0, 3.47 through four starts) has provided a needed shot in the arm since being promoted from Triple A in late April. Add in the steady Guthrie, and Baltimore's suddenly developed a capable, if unspectacular, first four members of the rotation.

BEST OF THE BELTWAY

Baltimore seized early bragging rights over its area interleague rivals, the Washington Nationals, by taking two of three games during the latest edition of the Beltway Series, which took place this past weekend at Camden Yards.

The Orioles bullpen was up to the challenge once again in Friday's opener, as Matt Albers, Johnson and Sherrill teamed up for four scoreless innings in relief of Olson to preserve a 5-3 victory. Burres delivered a sharp 6 2/3 frames of two-run ball in Saturday's 6-5 decision over the Nats, with outfielders Nick Markakis and Jay Payton each socking two-run homers to lead the offense.

Baltimore came up short in its attempt to earn a series sweep, as Washington youngster John Lannan outdueled Guthrie in the Nationals' 2-1 triumph on Sunday. Still, the series win had to be gratifying for both players, fans and particularly team owner Peter Angelos, who lobbied heavily against the then- proposed move of the Montreal Expos to Washington a few years back.

The Orioles, who have now won seven of their last nine games, also avenged a sweep at the hands of the Nationals when the clubs met at Camden Yards last June.

HOME SWEET HOME

After winning four times during last week's five-game homestand against the Red Sox and Nationals, Baltimore upped its record at Camden Yards to an outstanding 14-7 on the season. The Orioles have won or split seven of their eight series at home this year.

The youthful Orioles have not enjoyed that same measure of success on the road, where the squad has posted only a 9-13 mark as it enters a key six-game trek against a pair of divisional foes. Baltimore will first visit Yankee Stadium for three straight meetings with the struggling Bronx Bombers before heading south for a weekend set against the upstart Tampa Bay Rays, who presently stand two games ahead of the Birds in the AL East standings.

Those two series begin a stretch of 13 consecutive games for Baltimore against AL East opponents. Following the road trip, the Orioles will host the Yankees three times before Boston invades Camden Yards for a four-game set between May 30-June 2.

WHO'S HOT

Cabrera has won his last two starts, including a brilliant complete-game three-hitter at Kansas City on May 8, and surrendered two runs or less in five of his last seven outings. The notoriously wild hurler, who's led the AL in walks in each of the past two seasons, has also issued only three passes over his three most recent mound trips.

Second baseman and leadoff hitter Brian Roberts went 8-for-16 with seven runs scored during a five-game stretch before going hitless in three at-bats in Sunday's loss to Washington.

WHO'S NOT

Designated hitter Aubrey Huff is mired in a 3-for-25 slump and has driven in only four runs in 16 May games. The left-handed slugger went hitless in his first 10 at-bats during the Washington series before collecting a ninth-inning single on Sunday.

Markakis is batting just .160 (4-for-25) with one run scored over his last seven games, although the right fielder did hit his team-leading eighth home run of the year to key Saturday's win over the Nationals.

ON DECK

Baltimore begins its three-game series with the Yankees on Tuesday and will go up against former Oriole Mike Mussina (6-3, 3.99) in the opener. Cabrera (4-1, 3.58) will start the set for the Birds, with lefties Olson (3-0, 3.47) and Burres (4-4, 3.47) getting the nods on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Darrell Rasner (2-0, 3.00) and Ian Kennedy (0-3, 8.48) will take the mound for New York in the final two games.