Orioles notes on chance to clinch playoff berth tonight, Johnson and Vavra arriving, Mayo departing, and more

Major League Baseball has adjusted its playoff math and the Orioles actually could clinch a berth tonight rather than Sunday.

The magic number remains at three, but the Orioles will reach the postseason again with a win this afternoon against the Tigers and a Mariners loss tonight in Texas. They’d claim the tie-breaker over Detroit in a complicated scenario.

The Mariners’ game begins at 7:05 p.m., setting up the possibility that the Orioles won't celebrate in the clubhouse. It’s happened in the past, with the team's playoff berth confirmed in 2012 while on a flight to Tampa.

Adding to the unusual circumstances that day was how the charter made an emergency landing in Jacksonville after smoke began pouring out of an oven in the kitchen area. Players reboarded and toasted their first postseason berth since 1997. Seats and windows weren't covered in plastic.

The Orioles haven’t made the playoffs in consecutive years since 1996-97. They qualified in 2012, ’14 and ’16 under former manager Buck Showalter and won the division last season.

Manager Brandon Hyde said he isn’t lining up his starters for the postseason, but Corbin Burnes would pitch Game 1 of the Wild Card series on Oct. 1 if the Orioles are in it. Burnes is on track for the assignment.

Rookie Cade Povich is on the mound tonight against the Tigers. Albert Suárez starts Sunday afternoon’s series finale and Dean Kremer starts Tuesday night’s game at Yankee Stadium.

“We’re not taking anything for granted, and just trying to win,” Hyde said.

“We’re just going to stay on turn right now.”

The Orioles selected outfielder Daniel Johnson’s contract earlier today from Triple-A Norfolk in case Cedric Mullins went on the injured list with neck discomfort. Mullins is in today’s lineup.

“Ced did a lot of things here in the last couple hours,” Hyde said. “He hit, he ran, did some outfield stuff. A lot of treatment yesterday and last night, feels a lot better today. He feels great.”

Infielder Terrin Vavra is on the 24-hour taxi squad. The Orioles wanted him at the ballpark in case Mullins went on the injured list. They optioned Coby Mayo earlier today.

“Wanted to give us some options, honestly, if we had to make any sort of moves,” Hyde said.

Vavra spent more time on the injured list this year, was selected on waivers by the Mariners in August, became a free agent earlier this month and re-signed with the Orioles.

“It’s been a crazy year, to say the least, a crazy last month,” he said.

“Just to be back in this clubhouse is a blessing and grateful for every opportunity.”

Players tend to circle back to their old teams. That’s part of baseball life.

“Yeah, fortunately,” he said. “I have nothing but good things to say about the Orioles organization and hopefully that’s the same with them about me. I know how this game works. You’ve got to take it one game at a time. There’s a business side of it and you’ve just got to be ready to play wherever that is.”

Mayo has played in 17 games with the Orioles and gone 4-for-41 with four walks and 22 strikeouts. He’s the top prospect in the system and MLB Pipeline ranks him eighth in baseball.

“I think it’s tough to evaluate young players, especially with a short sample and especially so young, 22 years old,” Hyde said.

“It’s definitely very normal to have your ups and downs, and even in your second and third years there’s going to be periods where you have tough times. Coby didn’t have that many at-bats. It was nice to see him get his feet wet. I thought he played great at first base last night. That looks more comfortable, so I thought there were some positives.”

Infielders Ramón Urías, Jordan Westburg and Ryan Mountcastle remain on their rehab assignments at Norfolk.

“We’re still evaluating those guys,” Hyde said. “I’ll talk to them again today. We’re just kind of seeing how they feel, but it sounds like they’re getting close.”

Hyde congratulated Gunnar Henderson on back-to-back Most Valuable Oriole awards and marveled at the shortstop’s talents and room for further growth.

“There’s been a couple times where (Ryan) O’Hearn’s been standing next to me and Gunnar hits a homer leading off a game or doing something and he looks at me and we’re both like, ‘That is ridiculous,’” Hyde said. “It’s not that easy, and there have been a lot of moments this year where he’s made it look easy. He’s just so incredibly talented. So much so where nothing really surprises you anymore. Some of the best left-handed pitchers in the game, some of the best pitchers in the game period, and him just taking great at-bats or hitting a homer.

“He’s just had a lot of great moments and it’s a special, special person that is unbelievably driven. I said last night to somebody during the game – I can’t remember who it was – I said the guy never feels like he should get out. When he makes an out, he never feels like the pitcher got him out. He should never get out. And that’s just how he’s wired. He’s got an incredible amount of talent for someone that young.”

More amazing is there’s more for Henderson to unlock. He isn’t a finished product at 23.

“He’s still so young, and this is his first year playing every day at shortstop,” Hyde said. “There’s room to grow in every single area right now. It’s hard to believe, but he’s going to continue to get better.”