Is this it?

A nor’easter is threatening to destroy the final game on the Orioles’ schedule. They played a doubleheader on Friday because of the storm, and they may be heading home early, though Major League Baseball is trying to avoid it by moving up the start time to 1:05 p.m.

I doubt that they’d go kicking and screaming.

The 2008 season lasted only 161 games because Tropical Storm Hanna washed away the opener of a Sept. 6 day-night doubleheader against the Athletics at Camden Yards, and the Orioles finished with a 68-93 record.

What is it about Sept. 6 and notable Orioles moments? Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2131, Eddie Murray’s 500th home run …

Anyway, the 1990 season also consisted of only 161 games because of an Aug. 5 rainout in the bottom of the first inning against the Royals on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball at Memorial Stadium that left the Orioles with a 76-85 record.

Often forgotten in the historically bad 1988 season was that it also ended after 161 games because of an unplayed rainout. The Orioles were 54-107. Mother Nature threw in the towel.

Of course, teams were limited to 60 games in the COVID 2020 season, and to 112 in 1994 and 144 in 1995 because of a strike. The Orioles went 59-46 in 1981 because of a strike that split the season into two halves.

Shane Baz is supposed to start later today, which would be his team-leading 32nd. He already ranks first with 31, one ahead of Trevor Rogers, who spent some time on the injured list with a bad case of the flu.

A loss today would give Baz 16. He began yesterday tied with Tanner Bibee and Brady Singer for most in the majors. Again, hardly indicative of his work over the course of the season. Baz has registered a 4.11 ERA in 179 2/3 innings and he’d have a much better record with more run support.

The Orioles aren’t asking for a refund on his $68 million extension. They traded and are paying for his high ceiling.

Contracts usually are given based on a player’s past production, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. regretfully pointed out to a Blue Jays fan base that didn’t want to hear it. But that’s why guys get paid, with Chris Davis the supreme local example. Baz was more about what the Orioles projected once they got their hands on him.

Kyle Bradish finished with 14 losses after going on the injured list with a sports hernia that might require surgery. Our last update had Bradish seeking opinions and weighing his options.

According to STATS, two Orioles pitchers haven’t posted the top two loss totals in a season, even if tied with others. Another reason why 2026 will go down as being so … what’s the word? Special?

That’s not it.

The Orioles have a one-game lead over the Blue Jays for fourth place in the division, and the tie-breaker. They’ve gone 39-42 at home and 40-40 on the road. Their minus-21 run differential is an improvement over the minus-111 registered in 2025. So there’s that.

Gunnar Henderson didn’t play in Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader and told the media afterward that he’s dealt with right wrist soreness for about half the season. He said it wasn’t an excuse and he won’t need surgery.

He needs a bounce back in 2027. The Orioles can’t seem to contend without him.

Henderson was far from the biggest issue on the team. However, he hit 17 home runs in 2025, only six in the second half, and revealed in a WBAL Radio interview in January that he had a left shoulder impingement for about three-quarters of the season. He batted .226/.311/.404 this season and mentioned the wrist.

The Orioles have posted back-to-back losing campaigns and remain winless in the playoffs since sweeping the 2014 Division Series.

A rainout today would leave Pete Alonso with a .267/.363/.522 line, 24 doubles, 43 home runs, 113 RBIs, 81 walks and a 5.0 bWAR in 700 plate appearances that fall nine short of last year’s career high with the Mets. His latest power binge is among the most impressive we’ve seen, with five homers in his last five games, eight in 10 and 10 in 16. He’s got 20 homers with 42 RBIs in 44 games since Aug. 9.

He’s on such a roll, he didn’t homer in Game 2 but contributed a single, two walks and two runs scored.

There isn’t a safe place to pitch Alonso unless rolling the ball to the plate or aiming for his ribs.

Alonso could become the fourth Oriole to lead the American League in home runs and RBIs after Frank Robinson in 1966, Eddie Murray in the strike-shortened 1981 season and Chris Davis in 2013. Murray was among four players with 22 homers. It counts.

The 43 home runs are tied with Rafael Palmeiro for eighth on the franchise’s single-season list. Anthony Santander is seventh with 44 in 2024.

A window to play today, and don’t hold your breath, would give Alonso a chance to climb and fans more of a reason to care. And then, we’ll wait to find out where he finishes in Most Valuable Player voting. The Athletic’s Keith Law didn’t put Alonso in his top 10.

Rookie right-hander Elmer Rodríguez is listed as the Yankees’ starter today, which would be his seventh appearance after allowing 16 runs and walking 16 batters in 26 2/3 innings. His last game in the majors was Aug. 31.

A more conventional outfield for the Orioles would have been left-handed-hitting Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser and switch-hitting Leody Taveras. But Christian Franklin was in left field for Game 1 and went 2-for-5 with his first major league RBI. He stayed in left field for Game 2 and went 2-for-5 again.

Makes sense to just let him play and keep evaluating him for a possible bench role in 2027.

Rece Hinds was in right field in Game 2 and went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. He also was charged with an error and failed to track down a fly ball near the line.

A possible bench role could be growing more unlikely for Hinds, who’s 5-for-28 with 13 strikeouts and playing below-average defense. But it’s a modest sample size.

Beavers isn’t fighting for a roster spot, just a more regular role instead of platooning. He hit his first career grand slam in Game 1 and homered again in the nightcap, but he’s 14-for-64 with no homers against left-handers. He was 3-for-20 with one homer last season after being called up in August.

We’ll find out later today whether he’s in the lineup again. Or if it’s necessary to post one.