Using critical September games as starting points for Orioles’ 2027 decisions

There are four weeks left in the season, and the Orioles are one game behind the Guardians for the third wild-card spot in the American League. Whether they can continue a push for the final wild-card spot is the biggest question for September.

But there are other important questions that need to be answered in the final weeks.

What will the Orioles do with their infielders for 2027?

The performance of Blaze Alexander, Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand in September will help president of baseball operations Mike Elias make some important decisions.

On Friday, Alexander returned from six weeks away with a fractured left hand and played shortstop while Gunnar Henderson sat. Alexander is a great asset, and having him around to play second base, third base and occasionally at shortstop is great.

What may be even better is if they find Alexander, who’s started 15 games in the outfield in the last two years and played only three complete games, is a viable alternative as an outfielder.

Without Tyler O’Neill, who’s on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury, the Orioles are short on right-handed hitting outfielders. Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser are left-handed hitters and Leody Taveras is a switch hitter.

Taveras entered Saturday’s game hitting .234 with a .717 OPS as a left-handed hitter and just .200 with a .506 OPS hitting right-handed.

Christian Franklin is their only true right-handed hitting outfielder, and if Alexander displays he can play decently in the outfielder, that may help the Orioles not only in September, but for 2027.

There aren’t any right-handed hitting outfield prospects in the high minors. Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Heston Kjerstad are both left-handed.

Alexander played lots of third base in the weeks before his injury, and the Orioles are thankful they acquired Christian Encarnacion-Strand in April. Encarnacion-Strand has been a revelation, with important hits and solid play at third base.

Mayo started 10 games at third base while Alexander was on the IL. Encarnacion-Strand started the rest. He’s played seven games at first base since August 16^th while Pete Alonso, who’s trying to manage a sore right calf, has been the designated hitter in those games.

In the second half of the season, Mayo has been proving he’s a major league hitter. Entering Saturday’s game, he’s hit .267 with an .859 OPS with six home runs and 18 RBIs.

The Orioles hope that Jordan Westburg can make a full recovery from Tommy John surgery. Westburg, who was counted on to play third base, didn’t play at all this season, though he’s said he expects to be ready for the start of spring training, whether it’s on schedule in mid-February or later.

Having Alexander, Encarnacion-Strand, Mayo and Westburg all on the team next year would make for some fascinating decisions.

Is Carlos Narváez an acceptable catcher?

The Orioles acquired Narváez from Boston in the trade that sent Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox.

Narváez has provided no offense since he’s been with the Orioles. Entering Saturday night’s game, he’s 4-for-47 (.085) since his acquisition.

Last year, Narváez hit .241 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs and a .726 OPS with the Red Sox and finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting. (He was my fourth-place vote.)

While his defensive WAR is .1 with the Orioles, Narváez has to produce more offensively for the Orioles to justify keeping him as Samuel Basallo’s backup.

Currently, the Orioles are carrying three catchers — Basallo, Narváez and Yohel Pozo.

Pozo hasn’t started a game since Basallo returned on August 19^th, and the Orioles could always decide to drop a catcher for the final weeks.

Basallo, who just turned 22, needs a strong backup catcher, and Narváez needs to prove he can be that player.

Will the Orioles bullpen be different in September?

Félix Bautista should be joining the Orioles shortly, whether it’s on Tuesday when the rosters expand to 28, or a few days after that. Bautista had rotator cuff and labrum surgery in August 2025

The big question is what restrictions will Bautista be under. In 2025, when Bautista returned after Tommy John surgery, the Orioles didn’t use him on consecutive days until May 20^th-21^st.

It seems likely that Bautista will be under similar restrictions even if the games he’ll be appearing in are more critical than they were in 2025.

Ryan Helsley, who has missed two months with right elbow inflammation, has been throwing bullpen sessions, and perhaps could be an addition in late September.

Having Bautista and Helsley as options in the last few weeks could help bolster the bullpen. Helsley has a $14 million option for next year, and with him restricted to 17 games, it seems likely that he’ll exercise that option and remain with the Orioles for next year.

Having Bautista and Helsley in addition to Yennier Cano as right-handers would be a nice starting point in building a bullpen  for 2027. Elias could then work on acquiring some left-handed help.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com