BALTIMORE -- Entering the weekend, the Orioles knew they needed to win as many games as possible against the MLB-best Brewers to improve their postseason odds and, essentially, to keep their 2026 season alive. It was a tall task, but one Baltimore thought it could handle.
Instead, the O’s have moved dangerously close to elimination.
The Orioles got swept in the three-game series, taking a 3-0 loss in Sunday night’s finale vs. Milwaukee at Camden Yards. The offense went quiet for Baltimore, which was shut out in consecutive games and hasn’t scored a run over its past 19 innings.
With only six games remaining, the O’s (75-81) are five back of the third American League Wild Card spot, currently held by the White Sox (80-76). They’re also behind the Blue Jays (77-79) and Rangers (78-78), though these three teams are falling off entering the season’s final week.
It would take an improbable run -- as well as some help -- in order for Baltimore to reach the postseason for the third time in four years (and for the first time since 2024). The Orioles host the Blue Jays for three games, then finish with three games vs. the Yankees in New York.
It’s now guaranteed that Baltimore will not finish with a winning record. It will need to win each of its final six games to end at .500.
The starting pitching did its part this weekend. Trevor Rogers tossed eight innings of one-run ball and struck out 10 on Saturday, but the Brewers recorded a 1-0 win, with their lone run scoring after O’s right fielder Rece Hinds lost a ball in the sun on what resulted in a triple for Joey Ortiz (who then immediately scored on a groundout).
On Sunday, Brandon Young notched a career-high nine strikeouts while allowing two earned runs over six innings. It didn’t matter, though, as seven Crew pitchers combined for a shutout.