The Orioles were eliminated from the 2026 postseason Thursday without playing: the White Sox beat Kansas City for their 82nd win, while Baltimore can no longer reach 82. Chicago is assured at least a wild-card spot; the AL Central title remains undecided.
Baltimore reached a wild-card position at the end of August, then lost six straight, including four home games against Boston, before Milwaukee swept the Orioles at home. Around the trade deadline, Baltimore sent Adley Rutschman to the Red Sox, Taylor Ward to Seattle and Dean Kremer to Minnesota. Rutschman still had this season and next under team control.
Pete Alonso was a bright spot in his first year of a five-year contract; the article said he would finish with at least 41 home runs and 110 RBIs. It also cited Brandon Young's emergence in the rotation. The piece said Baltimore would finish with no more than 84 losses, after going 75-87 in 2025.
