By winning a third consecutive series against teams that appear to be playoff bound, the Orioles actually moved from 10 to 8 ½ games out of the final Wild Card spot going into their off-day. They passed the Twins and have only six teams ahead of them.
Only. A reminder that the task is daunting. Pray for a baseball miracle.
Anyone who says “stranger things have happened” should be challenged to start naming them.
The Orioles are 43-33 since toting that grotesque 16-34 record. They could spend the entire offseason stretching out hamstrings by kicking themselves for the slow start. They fell into a nearly impossible position but are being stubborn, winning six of their last seven games and moving eight below .500 for the first time since July 29.
They’re also living rent-free in the heads of fans who can’t believe that their teams are losing to the last-place Orioles. The venting on social media is intense, and it’s spreading to the national media. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, with his 5.4 million followers on X, simply posted, “The Orioles can F off.”
He didn’t abbreviate.
Boston media debated late Tuesday night whether the 11-inning loss was the worst of the season. Sean McAdams of MassLive.com was among those ranking it as the most frustrating, which seemed to be the consensus on the elevator ride to the clubhouse level. Bases loaded, no outs, and Rico Garcia strikes out three batters. Traffic in extra innings and nothing to show for it.
Third base coach Kyle Hudson, the former Orioles outfielder, did his old team a favor by holding Nate Eaton on an apparent game-tying sacrifice fly. Corbin Martin retired Alex Bregman on a popup and the sweep was in the bag – just like many fans walking out of Fenway Park and to the nearest bar.
“We’re just trying to play good baseball,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said when asked about the level of belief in the clubhouse.
“I’m not so sure that’s where our mind is. We dug ourselves a really deep hole. I think we’re really proud that over the last three months of the season we have one of the better records in the game as you look at all 30 teams. We’ll keep playing good, we’ll see where this thing goes and, you know, who knows?”
The realists know, but the Orioles are doing exactly what they should. You don’t quit, you don’t start making vacation plans. You’re paid to play as professionals and pride alone should motivate. And there’s also the infusion of prospects and older players returning from the injured list. They have their own reasons.
Samuel Basallo is the No. 7 or 8 prospect in baseball, depending on the outlet, and Dylan Beavers just cracked the Baseball America and ESPN Top 100s. Basallo is fourth on the ESPN list. They’re ranked 1 and 3, respectively, in the system, and they don’t want to fail after grinding to get here. They scrutiny is intense and they aren’t oblivious to it.
Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are returning from elbow-reconstructive surgeries. Bradish hasn’t pitched since June 2024 and made his final rehab start yesterday in Game 1 of Triple-A Norfolk’s doubleheader, allowing three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings and throwing 89 pitches. He’s stretched out and hopping back into the Orioles’ rotation during the Red Sox series at Camden Yards. Wells, who hasn’t pitched since April 2024, should return after two more rehab starts, the next one coming this afternoon. The Orioles probably will put him in a much-needed relief role.
Heck, let the man close. He did it as a Rule 5 pick and it’s total bedlam out there right now.
Félix Bautista probably won’t pitch in 2026 after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair his rotator cuff and labrum. His absence will last a minimum of 12 months, which makes next September just a mathematically possibility. I don’t see it happening, but my vision isn’t what it used to be in my youth.
Mansolino will have to keep ordering the closer du jour until executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias finds a more permanent replacement.
Albert Suárez provided one of the best stories of 2024, working his way from Japan and Korea to the majors for the first time in seven years and becoming one of the best sports stories in Baltimore. Reporters couldn’t get enough of him, in spring training and throughout the season. He was always gracious with his time, always smiling. A gentle soul who turned into a bulldog on the mound.
Suárez made one appearance this season, on March 28 in Toronto, and landed on the 60-day injured list with a strained rotator cuff. He’s on a rehab assignment, with another start for Norfolk coming Friday, and prepping for bulk relief with the Orioles. Don’t try telling him that these games don’t matter.
Coby Mayo will be in the lineup most nights and everyone has waited to utter those words. I’ll borrow from the 1989 team and say, “Why Not?” This is the perfect time to keep tutoring him at first base, his new position. Third base is done except for an emergency, or if someone else is put in charge of the roster.
The ball makes a different sound coming off Mayo’s bat. Ryan O’Hearn is gone and Ryan Mountcastle is arbitration eligible for the last time. Basallo will pop in and out of the position, with lots of his at-bats coming as the catcher and designated hitter. Mayo can be the main guy and not worry that a few 0-fers will send him to the bench or witness protection.
As for Mountcastle, let’s see what he does when healthy, and then let’s see what the Orioles do with him.
We also don’t know whether Mansolino is managing for the full-time gig. The club is expected to conduct a search in the offseason, with Elias having more time to do it. He was hired in November 2018 and chose Brandon Hyde a month later at the Winter Meetings.
Don’t let how it ended color your opinion. The Orioles made it through the rebuild, unexpectedly posted a winning record in 2022 and reached the playoffs in back-to-back years. Hyde was a two-time Sporting News Manager of the Year and also received the BBWAA award. He was absolutely the right choice at the time. He had the guys playing hard and believing that wins mattered. They’d run through a wall for him. They just didn’t score enough runs this season.
I’m sure Hyde would love a chance to manage this current roster, with the prospects on it and guys getting healthy and the rotation actually keeping its ERA under 6. Way under. Starters have posted a 2.97 ERA in their last 30 games beginning July 19, lowest in the majors.
Can they keep it up? Add it to the list of reasons why the Orioles should keep holding your interest, even while a Ravens offensive lineman is flagged for holding.
* Here are the pitching matchups for the four-game series against the Astros at Camden Yards:
Tonight: RHP Brandon Young vs. RHP Jason Alexander
Friday: LHP Cade Povich vs. RHP Lance McCullers
Saturday: RHP Dean Kremer vs. RHP Christian Javier
Sunday: LHP Trevor Rogers vs. RHP Spencer Arrighetti
Tonight’s game airs on FOX.
* Jorge Mateo began his injury rehab assignment last night with Norfolk and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He started in center field.
Infielder Aron Estrada was removed from the Double-A Chesapeake’s game yesterday with right quad discomfort.
Zach Fruit tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings with four hits and four strikeouts. His ERA is 8.04.
Boston Bateman made his High-A Aberdeen debut and surrendered five runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.
First-round pick Ike Irish hit his first home run with Class A Delmarva. Kiefer Lord returned from Tommy John surgery and allowed an unearned run and one hit in 2 1/3 innings.