Orioles must make up significant ground for an unlikely postseason berth

The Orioles must play their best baseball of 2026 in order to somehow make the playoffs.

On Friday night, they won their second straight game, beating Toronto, 7-4, at Rogers Centre, improving their record to 72-76.

They had to wait nearly an hour after their game concluded to find out that the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, thanks to a three-run ninth inning.

The Guardians are 75-73 and lead the Orioles by three games for the final wild-card spot. It’s effectively a four-game lead because the Orioles lost the season series to Cleveland, and if the teams end in a tie, the Guardians get the spot.

The Blue Jays are two games behind Cleveland.

In order for the Orioles to reach .500, they must win nine of their final 14 games, and they’ve had only one stretch like that all season. From July 9^th-31^st, they went 12-5, winning their first game against Philadelphia.

After they lost their next two games to the Phillies, president of baseball operations Mike Elias decided to trade Adley Rutschman, Taylor Ward and Tyler Wells.

The Orioles have been at .500 only once since April, and they needed a game-saving catch by Colton Cowser on August 31^st to do it.

After that, they lost six straight—two to Colorado and four to Boston, before winning two of three against Cleveland and Friday night’s game.

The Orioles have two games remaining in Toronto, then play three in New York against the Mets. Their final homestand begins on September 18th against the Milwaukee Brewers, who along with Tampa Bay clinched playoff spots on Friday.

They’ll play three against the Brewers and three more against the Blue Jays before their season concludes at Yankee Stadium with a three-game series from September 25^th-27^th.

Impressive hitting in Toronto

The Oriole jumped on Toronto starter Max Scherzer for six runs in the first two innings on their way to a 7-4 win. Scherzer allowed six consecutive hits in the second inning for the first time in his storied career.

Dylan Beavers led off the game with a home run and added a two-run single in the second. Cowser had a two-run double and Heston Kjerstad and run-scoring single, his first RBI this season.

Coby Mayo hit his 23^rd home run, his fourth in the last four games. His last three have been hit against right-handers.

Mayo’s home run gave the Orioles a 7-2 lead, and they had to withstand a shaky ninth inning by Alex Hoppe.

Hoppe allowed his first earned runs as an Oriole. In Tuesday’s loss to the Guardians, he gave up three unearned runs. Hoppe had 14 appearances without an earned run.

Gunnar Henderson returned after missing Wednesday’s game with a sore left knee.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand had three hits.

What about Josh Walker? Walker relieved starter Chris Bassitt with none out in the sixth, and while he allowed an inherited run, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

He hasn’t allowed a run in his past 16 games, throwing 13 2/3 scoreless innings since August 6^th.

Walker lowered his ERA to 1.80. His 16 straight scoreless games are the most since Yennier Cano had 17 consecutive from April 14^th-May 17^th.

How was Chris Bassitt? Bassitt allowed two runs on six hits in five-plus innings. It was Bassitt’s first time pitching in Toronto since leaving the Blue Jays after last season. He’d spent the previous three season with Toronto.

Bassitt, who missed more than two months with back surgery, is 7-5 with a 4.88 ERA.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? High-A Frederick allowed three runs to Greensboro in the eighth inning in its 7-5 loss, ending their South Atlantic League championship hopes.

The Keys won the first game at Greensboro, then lost to the Grasshoppers on Thursday and Friday night.

Twine Palmer allowed two runs in the eighth and took the loss.

Andrés Nolaya homered. Jaiden Lo Re had two hits.

Cade Povich pitched six innings, giving up three runs on four hits as Triple-A Norfolk beat Memphis. 5-3.

Jud Fabian hit a two-run home run. Enrique Bradfield Jr. had two hits and stole his 31^st base.

Double-A Chesapeake was held to four hits in a 1-0 loss to Richmond.

JT Quinn pitched five scoreless innings, giving up four hits, striking out three and walking two.

The Baysox conclude their season on Sunday.

Norfolk placed first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda on the concussion injured list and recalled outfielder Tavian Josenberger from Chesapeake.

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