Orioles news: O’s officially eliminated

The Orioles' dreams of the 2026 postseason, such as they were, are officially dead. Last night, the White Sox won in Kansas City to clinch a playoff spot and mathematically eliminate the Birds from wild card contention. It's over.

Of course, it's actually been over for quite some time, even if the math didn't agree until yesterday. It's been painfully obvious for weeks — perhaps months — that these 2026 Orioles just didn't have what it takes to be a playoff team. Even in a historically mediocre American League, the O's didn't do enough to clear the very low bar needed to sneak into the dance. (If only they played in the AL West, where it's quite possible that a sub-.500 team will win the division.)

So there it is. Six months ago, the Orioles began their season with promise, armed with the newly signed Pete Alonso , expecting to surge back into contention after their dismal 2025 campaign. Instead, they will end it in exactly the same way — by watching the postseason from their couches. Alonso did his part, but the rest of the team collapsed around him.