The Orioles are still hanging around in the American League wild card race, even if they’ve spent much of this season making life harder on themselves. They enter the finale two games back, and while the odds of jumping four teams to snag the third wild card spot are slim, they’re not gone yet. A win today would move Baltimore back ahead of the Twins in that race, and with a brutal stretch of Rays and Yankees games looming next, every remaining chance still carries some weight.
That’s what makes this team so maddening. There are still signs of something better in the roster, even after last week’s trades.
Last night offered one of those flashes, with Gunnar Henderson turning in a performance that hinted at the version of him the Orioles have been waiting for all year. If the player who was supposed to be their best one starts looking like it again, the whole picture changes.
Maybe not enough to make this a clean rescue job, but enough to keep the door cracked.
There’s a real temptation to dream on that kind of turnaround, even if the odds are long. If Baltimore can scrape together something like 84 wins, it’s not crazy to imagine them making noise against the other imperfect teams in the AL over a short series.
Probably not. But possible is still possible.
Henderson stays in the leadoff spot again today, which is the Orioles doubling down on belief in him after last night’s payoff. The rest of the lineup behind him is a mix of familiar names and newer pieces: Pete Alonso, Jackson Holliday, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Leody Taveras, Christian Franklin and Carlos Narváez.
That group is tasked with backing Shane Baz, who has had a season that doesn’t really match his underlying numbers. He’s 4-11 despite a 3.76 ERA and 111 ERA+, and he’s averaging just about six innings per start.
Run support has been thin, and the defense behind him hasn’t exactly made life easier. For Baltimore, this is the kind of game where that can matter a lot.
Manager Craig Albernaz continues to show plenty of faith in his players, even when the results have made that faith look expensive. Henderson has been part of the frustration, and so have Rico Garcia and Grant Wolfram. In the case of Garcia and Wolfram, the simplest explanation is that the bullpen could have been upgraded by better signings.
The Twins counter with a lineup that starts with Trevor Larnach and includes Royce Lewis, Josh Bell, Koby Clemens, Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, Victor Caratini, Alan Roden and Ryan Kreidler. Zebby Matthews gets the ball for Minnesota, and he brings a 5.23 ERA into the game.
For Orioles fans, that number probably says enough.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Learned The Full Price Of Bostons Adley Blockbuster
Adley Rutschman wasted no time getting settled in after his Boston debut, reaching base three times in all and handling things cleanly behind the plate in his first game with the Red Sox. The Orioles, meanwhile, finally got the last piece of the deal they made with Boston, as the transaction was completed with a player to be named later heading back the other way.
For Baltimore, the return now has a face and a place in the system, and it offers one more reminder of how much the organization was willing to give up to move a franchise centerpiece. The full cost of the blockbuster is now on the books, but the real judgment on it will take far longer than one debut to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Added One More Intriguing Piece In The Adley Rutschman Trade
The Adley Rutschman trade keeps revealing more layers for Baltimore, and the latest piece is a familiar kind of lottery ticket: a young outfielder with real tools and a long developmental runway. The Orioles received Harold Rivas from the Red Sox as the player to be named later, adding another prospect to a package that already brought back catcher Carlos Narvez, outfielder Enddy Azocar and pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon while Jake Rogers headed to Boston.
Rivas is still in Rookie-level ball, so this is less about immediate help than about betting on upside. Baltimore has made a habit of finding value in these kinds of additions, and the appeal here is obvious for a front office that prizes athleticism: speed, defense and arm strength are all part of Rivas' profile, even if the next step in his development remains the real story. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elias Faces A Defining Rays Test Orioles Fans Cant Ignore
Since Mike Elias arrived in Baltimore, the Orioles have been measured against the kind of steady, resourceful operation the Rays have built over the same span. Tampa Bay has kept winning through changing rosters and real obstacles, piling up a better record and more playoff success while remaining one of baseballs toughest front offices to imitate. For Orioles fans, that comparison has become a useful barometer for where the organization is and where it still wants to go.
Elias has put his own stamp on the roster, leaning into player development and a long-view approach to building a contender. The challenge now is whether that vision can match the standard the Rays have set, especially when the margins shrink in October and the pressure rises. Baltimore does not need to copy Tampa Bay piece for piece, but it does need to prove it can turn its own blueprint into the kind of sustained winning that changes the conversation. [Read more 🡒]