Orioles end regular season with 91st win by defeating Twins 6-2, Suárez Wild Card status uncertain (updated)

MINNEAPOLIS – The Orioles finally know their opponent for the Wild Card series. The preparation will get a lot easier.

The Royals clinched the No. 5 seed and will come to Camden Yards for Tuesday’s Game 1, setting up a rematch of the 2024 Championship Series that began the Orioles' eight-game playoff losing streak. Left-hander Cole Ragans will start. The Tigers did the unthinkable and lost to the White Sox again.

The Orioles must finalize their roster and Albert Suarez’s presumed spot might have closed. He wasn’t shortened today in his start, throwing 71 pitches in six innings in a 6-2 victory over the Twins at Target Field.

Rookie left-hander Cade Povich is making it, according to a source, and Suárez could be held back until the Division Series. The Orioles can wait until Tuesday morning to submit their roster.

Suárez could start Game 1 of the ALDS on an extra day of rest if the Orioles advance. Their plans for him aren’t confirmed but seemed to gain clarity.

"We're making roster decisions for the Wild Card round," said manager Brandon Hyde. "With a short series, we just have a lot of things in play. He pitched great, though. An awesome start. Six great innings and continued to do what he's done all year."

James McCann could catch Corbin Burnes with the opponent starting a left-hander. He hit a three-run homer off Bailey Ober in the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead.

Carlos Santana led off the bottom of the second inning by homering on a two-strike pitch. DeShawn Keirsey Jr. led off the third with his first major league home run. Suárez didn’t allow anything else, holding the Twins to two runs and four hits with four strikeouts.

Súarez retired 11 of the last 13 batters. Royce Lewis lined into a 4-3 double play in the sixth after Brooks Lee singled.

"It feels good to be able to help the team throughout the season and having a positive feeling for me," he said. "It’s all positive, the season that I had.

"Since spring training for me was really, really fun. Obviously, right now, we’re going to the playoffs, so even better."

McCann spoke to Súarez as they walked in from the bullpen, making sure that the right-hander understood how much he meant to the club.

“I said, ‘Regardless of how today goes, your last start of the season, just know we’re not who we are without you,'" McCann said. "That’s saying a lot for a guy who was an invite to camp. And I think if we would’ve said in spring training Albert Suárez was going to have as many meaningful innings as he had for us, the question would be, who went down? Obviously, we know the answer now, who went down and who’s shoes he filled.

"He did a phenomenal job. Who he is as a player is obviously great, but also who he's been as a teammate in the clubhouse, he’s a great guy, and I’m really happy for his success.”

Ober escaped a jam in the second after consecutive singles by Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn. But O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins singled in the fifth and McCann parked a changeup in the left field seats.

"It seems like he’s getting a big hit a game when he’s back there," Hyde said. "He does a great job defensively. And a big three-run homer there."

O’Hearn homered in the past two games and singled twice and walked today.

“Been having good swings the last couple weeks and feel good,” he said this morning.

The Orioles loaded the bases in the seventh, when Twins reliever Cole Sands left with an injury and Scott Blewett replaced him, and Jordan Westburg lined a two-run single into left field for a 5-2 lead.

Heston Kjerstad came off the bench and homered in the eighth inning, his first since July 7.

The 101 wins in 2023 couldn’t be matched, but the Orioles finished 91-71 with a 33-33 second half.

"I’m really proud of this group," Hyde said. "We talked about it a lot, but we’ve had quite a bit of adversity this year. Going to the big leagues and winning 91 games, it’s an incredible job by the guys in that room. Everybody in that clubhouse - coaching staff, trainers, strength and ultimately it’s all about the players."

Hyde sat many of the regulars yesterday and he began substituting today in the fifth, replacing shortstop Gunnar Henderson with Jackson Holliday and third baseman Ramón Urías with Emmanuel Rivera. Holliday drew another walk and singled. The outfield alignment changed in the seventh.

Closer Seranthony Domínguez worked the seventh in his final appearance before the playoffs and was shorted to two-thirds of an inning and 15 pitches. Gregory Soto stranded two inherited two runners.

Jacob Webb stranded his own runner in the eighth and Colin Selby handled the ninth in his return to the majors.

“We’ve been playing good baseball, but relaxed baseball is also pretty fun,” said Game 1 starter Corbin Burnes.

“Once you go to the postseason, the lights shine bright, it’s go time, it’s ready to strap it on and you’ve got to come out and play your best.”

The clubhouse televisions were tuned to football. The Orioles weren't tracking the Tigers and Royals games. Just give them an opponent and let's get started.

“This is what we play for. This is what we talk about," McCann said. "This is the point in the season where regular season stats don’t matter. Regular season record doesn’t matter. All that matters is winning each pitch, each inning and advancing. Last year, things didn’t go our way. This year, I feel like we’re prepared to be ready to go."

A 5-1 trip sure felt like momentum building, though Hyde pointed out that it didn't matter with the Rangers last fall. They stumbled and then stood tall.

"Really, really happy with how we played on this road trip," Hyde said. "I thought we played as good of baseball as we’ve played for a while. Really excited about how we’re playing going into the postseason.

"I think you want to be playing well. The way we’re throwing the ball right now, you see some guys having some really good at-bats. Hopefully we can carry that into the Wild Card round."

"Guys are having fun again. Losing stinks," McCann said. "Sometimes it’s the way the game rolls that no matter what you do, no matter how many different things you try, you just don’t come out of that rut. This last week was really good to see guys swing the bat well, guys throwing the ball well, defense playing well, really all aspects of the game.”