Good morning, Birdland,
The Orioles have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and now their regular season could potentially come to an earlier-than-expected conclusion.
Baltimore and the New York Yankees played a doubleheader Friday, splitting the two games. The Orioles dominated the opener, cruising to a 10-2 victory, while New York answered with a 6-3 win in the nightcap.
The doubleheader was scheduled to avoid the poor weather expected along the East Coast, with the regular-season finale still set for Sunday. However, rain is forecast throughout the day, putting Sunday’s game in doubt. Major League Baseball is unlikely to postpone the contest into Monday without a compelling reason, meaning Friday’s doubleheader could potentially have been the final action of the Orioles’ 2026 season.
If that turns out to be the case, Trevor Rogers has already made his final appearance in an Orioles uniform for the year. He finished on a positive note, pitching four solid innings in Friday’s opener. Rogers surrendered only one run while striking out four batters. He finishes the 2026 season with a 4.03 ERA.
The left-hander is now headed toward free agency, although he has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain in Baltimore.
Leody Taveras could also have played his final game for the Orioles if Sunday’s finale is canceled. The outfielder provided some unexpected production while Baltimore searched for consistency from its outfield group. His role became less productive as the season progressed, but he finished Friday’s nightcap 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Chris Bassitt and Andrew Kittredge are among the other veterans whose time in Baltimore could be coming to an end.
Bassitt pitched well after returning from injury, but he will enter the 2027 season at age 38. Considering his recent injury history, the Orioles may have to decide whether another veteran season in the rotation makes sense.
Kittredge provided a dependable option in the bullpen, although several of his underlying numbers declined this season. Baltimore also has plenty of relief options available, which could make it more difficult to justify keeping an expensive right-hander who has spent time on the injured list.
Then there is Ryan Mountcastle.
Mountcastle appeared in only eight games this season after dealing with multiple significant injuries. The Orioles have a team option for him for 2027, but with several alternatives available at first base, it is difficult to know whether Baltimore will exercise it. If this is the end of his Orioles career, it would be an unfortunate way for his time with the organization to conclude.
Most of Baltimore’s important players remain under team control for 2027, giving the organization a solid foundation to work with. Still, significant changes appear necessary if the Orioles want to get back into postseason contention.
If Mike Elias remains in charge, as many expect, simply bringing back essentially the same roster — with a healthy Jordan Westburg added to the mix — would likely leave fans wanting much more.
So, what should the Orioles prioritize this offseason?
An impact outfielder should be near the top of the list. Colton Cowser’s defense makes him a reasonable option to remain in center field every day, but Baltimore could use an upgrade in one of the corner-outfield spots.
Second base could also become an area of competition. Jackson Holliday has yet to reach the level the organization may have envisioned, while Blaze Alexander does not necessarily appear destined to remain tied to one position.
The starting rotation also needs attention. Adding a pitcher capable of being considered for the Opening Day assignment would give the staff an important boost. A reliable left-handed reliever capable of handling high-leverage situations would also make sense.
That’s a substantial offseason checklist, but Baltimore has plenty of work to do if it wants to make meaningful progress in 2027.
Around Birdland
Alonso calls missing the postseason ‘unacceptable’: ‘That’s not the standard here’ | Orioles.com
Alonso has delivered much of what the Orioles could have hoped for when they brought him aboard. The challenge now is building enough talent around him to keep the team’s performance moving forward as the contract continues.
This, That and the Other | Roch Kubatko
The disappointment surrounding the Orioles’ missed postseason opportunity is understandable. Baltimore had plenty of talent, but execution, coaching and decision-making ultimately contributed to the team’s disappointing finish.
Trevor Rogers loves the Orioles, but he’s excited to test free agency | The Baltimore Banner
Rogers’ turnaround in Baltimore has been a positive story for both the pitcher and the Orioles’ player-development system. A strong free-agent market could reward Rogers for his improvement while potentially making Baltimore more attractive to other pitchers looking for a similar opportunity.
Orioles Birthdays
Happy birthday to today’s Orioles alumni!
- Doug Sisk turns 69. He spent the 1988 season in Baltimore’s bullpen, posting a 3.72 ERA across 94.1 innings.
- Dave Duncan turns 81. The former catcher spent two seasons with the Orioles in 1975 and 1976, providing 0.5 bWAR during his time in Baltimore.
This Day in Orioles History
1956 – Charlie Beamon recorded a 1-0 shutout against the Yankees in his first major league start.
1962 – Dave McNally earned a 3-0 shutout victory over the Athletics in his first major league start.
1971 – Jim Palmer earned his 20th victory of the season, joining teammates Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar and Pat Dobson as the fourth Orioles pitcher to reach 20 wins that year. The Orioles became only the second major league team at the time to have four 20-game winners in the same rotation.
1978 – Mike Flanagan carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Cleveland before Gary Alexander broke it up with a home run. Two more singles followed, but Don Stanhouse came in to record the save as Baltimore won 3-1.
1994 – The Orioles dismissed manager Johnny Oates despite his team holding a 63-49 record before the players’ strike ended the season prematurely.
2012 – Baltimore crushed Toronto 12-2 after hitting seven home runs. Chris Davis and Manny Machado each homered twice as the Orioles continued their pursuit of the Yankees in the AL East.