The Baltimore Orioles have secured a spot in the playoffs for the second year in a row, marking their first back-to-back postseason appearances since the 1990s. This achievement was sealed with a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, coupled with a loss by the Minnesota Twins to the Miami Marlins. Baltimore, with a record of 87-70, has guaranteed at least a wild-card berth, though their chances of surpassing the Yankees (92-65) for the AL East title are slim, trailing by five games with only five games remaining in the regular season. Nonetheless, the Orioles hold the tiebreaker over the Yankees after clinching the season series.
After winning the AL East in 2014, the Orioles kicked off this season strongly with a 23-11 record and were 55-31 by July 3. However, they have struggled since then, going 32-39 due in part to a string of injuries. Pitchers Kyle Bradish, John Means, and Tyler Wells all suffered elbow injuries necessitating surgeries, while Grayson Rodriguez has been out of action since July 31 with a lat problem. Notably, All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg and third baseman Ramón Urías recently returned to the lineup after missing significant time due to injuries.
The Orioles welcomed back first baseman Ryan Mountcastle on Tuesday following a month-long absence because of a sprained left wrist. Second baseman Jorge Mateo has been sidelined since July 23 with a dislocated left shoulder. Despite these challenges, the team has shown resilience and determination as they push towards the postseason. In 1996 and 1997, Baltimore reached the AL Championship Series but fell short. Last year, they were eliminated in the Division Series by the Texas Rangers, who went on to win the World Series.
This playoff run signifies a significant accomplishment for the Orioles, as they continue to battle through setbacks and strive for success in the competitive world of Major League Baseball. The team’s dedication and perseverance have been on full display as they look to make a deep postseason run and etch their names in the annals of baseball history.
