The Orioles are heading into a stretch that could tell the story of their season, and it starts with a Sunday game against the Tampa Bay Rays before a three-city road swing that takes them through St. Louis, then on to the Athletics and Colorado Rockies.
Baltimore opens the day at 63-67, sitting a game behind the third wild card spot. That position is currently held by the Texas Rangers, who are 64-66, while the Cleveland Guardians are tied with Texas at 64-66. Toronto is only a half-game back, Minnesota and the Orioles are a game back, and Seattle and Detroit trail by two and 2 ½ games, respectively.
The Orioles still have plenty of head-to-head opportunities in front of them, too. They have three games left against Cleveland and six against Toronto.
The trip after Tampa Bay begins Tuesday in St. Louis, where the Cardinals have not yet announced their starters. Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.08), Kyle Bradish (7-12, 3.70) and Trevor Rogers (9-8, 4.14) are lined up for Baltimore in that series.
St. Louis starts Sunday 4 ½ games behind the San Diego Padres for the third wild card spot.
After the Cardinals series, the Orioles will face the two clubs with the worst records in baseball. The Athletics are 50-80, and the Rockies are 50-79.
For now, the message inside the clubhouse stays simple. “I know for me in particular, but also our players, we’re just kind on focused winning one pitch at a time,” hitting coach Dustin Lind said.
“You show up and whoever you’re playing that day, you just kind of do the bet you can to prepare for that, and once the game starts it’s all about just getting to the next pitch and trying to win that one. You hope you look up in a couple of weeks and you’re where you want to be.”
The Orioles return on September 3rd to face the Boston Red Sox, and that game will mark Adley Rutschman’s first meeting with Baltimore since he was traded to Boston on August 3rd.
Pete Alonso also brings a notable streak into the game, entering with a 14-game hitting streak, the longest by an Oriole since Colton Cowser’s 17-game run from July 19th-August 4th, 2024.
For Sunday’s Orioles-Rays matchup, Baltimore’s lineup has Jackson Holliday at second base, Pete Alonso at first, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Samuel Basallo behind the plate, Coby Mayo at DH, Dylan Beavers in left, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third, Colton Cowser in center and Leody Taveras in right with Shane Baz on the mound.
Tampa Bay counters with Yandy Diaz at DH, Jonathan Aranda at first, Junior Caminero at third, Liam Hicks catching, Chandler Simpson in left, Jonny DeLuca in right, Cedric Mullins in center, Richie Palacios at second, Taylor Walls at short and Nick Martinez pitching.
In Other News...
Pete Alonso Just Gave Orioles Fans Another Reason To Embrace Him
Pete Alonso is giving Orioles fans a little extra to smile about during MLB Players Weekend, and it starts with the bat in his hands. Hes using a custom Maryland Eastern Shore-themed design that leans into local pride, with nods to Maryland blue crabs and lighthouses, a fitting touch for a player who has found a way to connect with Baltimore beyond the box score.
The timing helps, too. Alonso recently reached his 30th home run of the season and stretched his hitting streak to 13 games, keeping his bat hot while the Orioles get another reminder of why he has been easy to pull for. For a fan base that appreciates both production and a little personality, this is the kind of detail that tends to land. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Put Samuel Basallo In A Huge Spot And He Delivered
Samuel Basallo was back from the injured list just in time to be handed a high-pressure role, and the Orioles had no hesitation about putting the young hitter in the middle of a tight game. Baltimore needed offense late against Tampa Bay, and Basallo came off the bench in the eighth inning with a chance to change the tone of the night.
He did exactly that, launching his first career pinch-hit homer to tie the game with a two-run swing and give the Orioles the jolt they needed before a 3-2 walk-off win. It was another sharp reminder of how well Baltimore has handled the Rays this season, with the Orioles taking eight of the nine meetings, and another sign that Basallo can matter in a hurry when the game is on the line. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Pulled Off Another Late Escape Fans Know All Too Well
Baltimore keeps finding ways to make late innings feel like a referendum on its pulse, and Friday night was another reminder of how thin the margins have been. The Orioles edged Tampa Bay 3-2 behind a night that featured strong defense from Tyler ONeill, useful work on the mound from Brandon Young and Josh Walker, and a couple of bench pieces who changed the tone when the game started to slip away.
Samuel Basallo came through as a pinch hitter to square things in the eighth, giving the Orioles a much-needed jolt before the game drifted into extra innings. Then Dylan Beavers delivered the finish the home crowd was waiting for in the 10th, sending Baltimore to 63-67 overall and keeping the clubs success against the Rays rolling at 8-4, a small but familiar bright spot in a season still searching for steadier ground. [Read more 🡒]