Playoff-hopeful O's need to 'turn the page fast' ahead of crucial finale

TORONTO -- The Orioles are running out of opportunities to salvage their season.

And they didn’t do themselves any favors on Saturday afternoon.

The O’s squandered the chance to secure a series victory over the Blue Jays by dropping the second game of a three-game set, 7-3, at Rogers Centre.

While these aren’t technically must-win games, it’s certainly starting to feel that way. With just 13 games left to play in the regular season, Baltimore (72-77) still sits three back of Cleveland (75-74) for the final American League Wild Card spot. So there isn’t a lot of room for error.

The game started out well, as the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first before Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s flyout to the warning track in right field ended the inning.

But it went downhill quickly from there.

Toronto plated two runs in the bottom half of the first, starter Spencer Miles followed by striking out the side in the second and the Blue Jays never relinquished their lead.

Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, who turned 30 on Saturday, didn’t have much to celebrate as he lasted only three innings and surrendered five runs on eight hits and two walks to go with a pair of strikeouts.

“Terrible, giving up way too much damage,” Bradish said of his outing. “Putting our team in a big hole to start the game, so it’s not good. It’s been a tough six weeks.”

Bradish has now given up at least five earned runs in three of his last nine starts. He’s also been unable to get through five innings five times in that span. It’s worth noting his workload this season, as Bradish has now thrown 155 innings after logging just 32 in 2025 and 39 1/3 in ‘24 due to Tommy John surgery.

Bradish isn’t about to use it as an excuse, though.

“No,” he said, when asked if fatigue was playing a factor in his recent performances. “My arm feels great.”

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is aware of where his starter is in his first full season back from surgery, but he still feels confident that Bradish can give the team a chance to win every fifth day.

“We talk through everything and everything is on the table,” Albernaz said. “But, with KB, he’s such a competitor and he’s been our guy all year. We feel comfortable giving him the ball every time he pitches.”

The O’s offense showed some life late, when first baseman Pete Alonso hit a two-run home run, his 35th of the season and 299th of his career, off the left-field foul pole in the seventh inning. It wasn’t enough to spark a comeback, as the Blue Jays added one of their own in the bottom half of the inning to round out the scoring.

“The at-bat quality, it was competitive, but it’s tough when you’re down five [runs] in three [innings],” Albernaz said. “It’s tough to scrap and claw. It’s a tough day for the offense, but we have to turn the page quickly for tomorrow.”

After a disappointing loss, time’s ticking faster on the Orioles’ playoff hopes. With the rubber match of the series on Sunday afternoon, it’s a quick turnaround to attempt to get back on track.

“It shouldn’t be difficult, because we have to play tomorrow and we have to go out and give our best chance to win,” Albernaz said. “Our guys aren’t going to dwell on it. Turn the page fast.”