Orioles targeting home Wild Card and possible roster resolutions in Minnesota

NEW YORK – Talk of a miraculous run to a division title was muted last night at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles are geared toward clinching the home Wild Card. That’s always been the more realistic outcome.

They flew to Minneapolis last night for the last three games of the regular season, returning to Target Field after sweeping the series last year by a combined score of 24-5. It’s a weird finish line, marking one ending but also the start of something much bigger.

A chance to roll those dice in October and perhaps bring Baltimore its first championship since 1983.

The season keeps evolving. The Orioles were 57-33 on July 7, with a tremendous knack for brushing off injuries like shoulder lint. They lost five of their last six games before the break and were 28-32 in the second half before arriving at Yankee Stadium and taking two of three.

Look at them now. As healthy as they’re gonna get with Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Ryan Mountcastle back in the lineup, Danny Coulombe and Jacob Webb back in the bullpen, and Grayson Rodriguez shut down. There’s no one else to wait for. This is it.

It looks good despite last night’s loss, certainly capable of going on a long playoff run with Major League Baseball unable to identity a dominant team.

The lineup is much deeper. The at-bats are improving. The defense is tighter. And leads are safer with Coulombe and Webb.

Seranthony Domínguez is the first choice to close, but Coulombe and his even splits provide a quality alternative. None are at the level of Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase and Houston’s Josh Hader. That’s the penthouse. And that’s one area where the Orioles on paper are at a disadvantage.

Yenner Cano, Cionel Pérez and Bryan Baker teamed up in the sixth inning last night to allow six runs. Aaron Judge hit a towering two-run homer off Baker in the seventh. The ‘pen has its cringy moments. They can’t happen in October.

Losing Rodriguez is the latest blow to the rotation, but the Orioles are sending out a top three of Corbin Burnes, Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer. As former manager Buck Showalter used to say, don’t cry for me, Argentina.

I’m sure he borrowed that line from somewhere.

Albert Suárez can be a fourth starter or give the Orioles some length in their bullpen. The roster decision could come down to carrying Baker or rookie Cade Povich in order to get down to 13 pitchers. Or maybe it’s neither. Matt Bowman’s implosion on Wednesday, with four runs in the ninth inning and only one out recorded, and Alex Verdugo's solo homer off him last night, might not impact his status but it ain't helping. You never know. The club is full of surprises.

There’s also the possibility of the Orioles optioning a pitcher who wouldn’t make the playoff roster and bringing up a fresh arm for this weekend. Anyone who’s rested and capable of absorbing innings.

Manager Brandon Hyde wasn’t letting his foot off the gas pedal before last night. The Orioles clinched a playoff berth Tuesday, but he stayed with his regular lineup the following night and the Orioles tallied nine runs and 17 hits. He wanted momentum to keep building, and the first Wild Card wasn’t settled.

It still isn’t, but the math favors them. Get it done tonight, with or without help, and sit more regulars.

The position player decision seemingly comes down to Heston Kjerstad or Emmanuel Rivera. Jackson Holliday isn’t getting much action now that Urías and Westburg are back, with the former occupying second base, but the kid provides another option in the middle infield and a left-handed bat. And yes, one that was slashing .169/.227/.290 before last night's infield single. But he’s also a pinch-runner late in games.

As I’ve said, the Orioles will match up to their opponent. Rivera provides good defense at the infield corners, though Westburg, Urías, Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn have it covered. He’s a right-handed hitter, though Westburg, Urías and Mountcastle … you know.

Kjerstad offers power from the left side and an extra outfielder, though he’d probably be used at designated hitter or as a pinch-hitter. And O’Hearn is more likely to be the designated hitter with Mountcastle at first base against a right-handed starter.

Got all that?