Orioles clinch playoff spot in back-to-back seasons for first time since 1996-97

Despite a trying second half, the Orioles are going back to the postseason.

Starting pitcher Dean Kremer and six relievers combined to hold down the New York Yankees for a 5-3 win and Miami beat Minnesota to officially punch Baltimore’s ticket on Tuesday night. Anthony Santander, Ramon Urias, and Colton Cowser each homered in the victory at Yankee Stadium, which clinched the season series for the Orioles (87-70) over first-place New York.

The Orioles have clinched a playoff berth in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1996 and 1997.

The next goal will now be securing the top wild-card spot, which would mean home-field advantage in the best-of-three opening round set to begin next Tuesday. The day’s action concluded with Baltimore holding a four-game advantage over Kansas City and Detroit with five games remaining in the regular season. The Yankees haven’t yet clinched the American League East championship, but the Orioles still trail by five games, meaning New York would have to lose out and Baltimore would have to win out to steal the division by a tiebreaker.

The Orioles can thank a tremendous start to the 2024 season for preserving their playoff fate as the club raced out to a 49-25 record by June 20 and has battled a slew of injuries and inconsistency to go 38-45 since then. But anything can happen in October, especially with Baltimore having welcomed back six important contributors from the injured list since Sept. 15.

This marks just the seventh time the Orioles have made the postseason since 1983, the last time the franchise won the World Series.