The Orioles’ September path is lined with teams that still have something real to chase, and that makes the final month feel a lot heavier than a normal late-season grind.
Baltimore is 69-69 and sitting just a half-game out in the race for the third American League Wild Card berth, which turns every series into a swing point. The Orioles have already had their share of bumps, but the schedule ahead gives them repeated chances to shape both the standings and any tiebreaker scenarios that could matter later.
The first big test comes right away with the Red Sox, who arrive at Camden Yards Thursday through Sunday at 75-63. Boston holds a 5-4 edge in the season series and currently sits in the AL’s second Wild Card spot, so this one carries obvious weight for both clubs. If the Orioles end up tied with the Red Sox, they’ll need to win at least three of four in this set to take the tiebreaker.
There’s also a familiar face coming back to Baltimore in a new uniform. Adley Rutschman, who has played 283 games at Camden Yards, will make his first series there as a visiting player after being traded to Boston at the Aug.
3 Trade Deadline. He’ll be trying to make life miserable for his former teammates.
A few days later, the Guardians come to town for a Sept. 7-9 series at Camden Yards. Cleveland is 69-68 and has climbed into the group of front-runners for that same third AL Wild Card spot, which gives this matchup plenty of significance. The Orioles trail the season series 3-1, and the only way they can secure the tiebreaker over Cleveland is by sweeping the three-game set.
There’s some extra edge attached to that one, too. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz will be seeing Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt again, and there’s a little payback baked into the reunion. When Albernaz, Vogt’s former bench coach, got to Progressive Field in mid-April, the visiting manager’s office had been filled with kid-sized furniture and decor.
The Blue Jays are next up on the calendar, and they’re the opponent Baltimore will see the most the rest of the way. The Orioles visit Toronto from Sept. 11-13 at Rogers Centre, then host the Blue Jays again Sept. 21-23 at Camden Yards.
Toronto is 68-70 and leads the season series 4-3, so these six games could end up carrying serious weight. Baltimore needs to go 4-2 or better across the two series to win the tiebreaker.
Colton Cowser has already been a problem for Toronto this season, and that makes him one of the more interesting names to watch in these matchups. The 26-year-old outfielder is hitting .429 (9-for-21) against the Blue Jays with one double, three homers, seven RBIs and a 1.359 OPS in seven games.
The month also includes a trip to face the Mets from Sept. 14-16 at Citi Field. New York is 62-76 and likely to be playing spoiler rather than trying to climb back into the NL Wild Card race. For Baltimore, it could be the only series against a sub-.500 opponent after Sept. 2, which makes it a spot where the Orioles will want to cash in.
And that series carries its own storyline, too. Pete Alonso is heading back to Citi Field for the first time since signing a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles in December. The Polar Bear played 1,008 games for the Mets across seven seasons, and he’ll face them for the first time in that setting.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Set Up Another Tough Roster Decision
The Orioles roster expansion brought a familiar sort of September clutter to Camden Yards, with Heston Kjerstad and left-handed reliever Luis De Len promoted from Triple-A Norfolk as Baltimore opened up to 28 players. Cade Povich was sent back to Norfolk in the shuffle, a reminder that even as rosters grow, every addition still squeezes someone else out of the picture.
Luis Robert Jr. could also be activated for an upcoming game, which would force another move and sharpen the pressure on a group already being asked to sort out roles on the fly. For a club trying to balance late-season depth, left-handed pitching and an outfield that keeps getting more crowded, the next decision may be even trickier than the last. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Rotation Shuffle Just Raised A Bigger Stretch Run Question
The Orioles have already started to make August feel a little different on the mound, opening with Cade Povich last night and pushing Kyle Bradish to tonight before Trevor Rogers takes the ball Wednesday afternoon. Craig Albernaz said a six-man rotation is under consideration, and with rosters expanding, Baltimore is also planning to add another pitcher while Luis Robert Jr. is expected to come aboard as the new position player.
The timing matters because this is no longer just about getting through a series, it is about how the club wants to handle the final months of the season. Bradishs recent struggles have only sharpened the discussion, especially after some uneven first-inning work, and the Orioles now have to decide whether the shuffle is a short-term convenience or the start of a broader rotation plan for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Roster Crunch Is Putting Heston Kjerstad Back In Focus
Heston Kjerstad is on track to finally get back into the Orioles mix in September, a welcome development after the outfielder spent much of the season working his way back from health setbacks. His return would give Baltimore another left-handed bat to sort into a roster that is about to get even more crowded, especially with the club expecting another outfield addition in the same stretch.
Luis Robert Jr. is also anticipated to join the Orioles, creating a squeeze that could force the team into some difficult decisions on the fringe of the roster. Christian Franklin may be the one sent down once Robert arrives, while Flix Bautista remains on a slower path back and is not expected to return right away because he still needs more rehab outings, leaving Baltimore to manage both reinforcements and the timing of its bullpen help. [Read more 🡒]