Winners and losers from Orioles' failed latest-season push to make the playoffs

The 2026 season has certainly been an interesting one for the Baltimore Orioles. Despite projections putting them smack dab in playoff contention, the team really struggled to dig themselves out of an early-season hole. Whether you blame GM Mike Elias for putting the team together or not, there were a number of winners and losers on the roster that certainly had a big say in how the Orioles performed down the stretch. Players that helped or hurt the team's chances to make the playoffs. 

From untimely injuries to a team fire sale at the trade deadline, 2026 has been filled with obstacles that threatened to sink the Orioles time and time again. But even with that growing pile of adversity around them, the Orioles still had a chance to make a late-season push and get into the playoffs this year. If you would have told Orioles fans back in July that the team would be playing meaningful ball in September, they would have simply not believed you. 

It took until the final week of the season for Baltimore to be eliminated from postseason contention. That is saying something. For the Orioles to even make it as far as they did in 2026 should be considered a small victory. But that doesn't take the sting of elimination away from fans. 

Orioles were knocking on the postseason door at the start of September 

It seems like ages ago that the Orioles were ecstatic to be back at the .500 mark and ready to claim their ticket to the playoffs. After beating the Colorado Rockies on August 31 in dramatic walk-off fashion, the Orioles were 69-69 and just half a game back of the Cleveland Guardians for the third Wild Card spot. After climbing over every obstacle thrown their way, the Orioles could see the finish line. All they needed to do was play to their full potential and the playoffs were a realistic possibility. 

But with a 9-12 record through their first 21 games in September, the Orioles fumbled away their opportunity and came up short to make the postseason. So it's only natural to look for the players most responsible for that failure. However, it's also important to remember the players who stepped up when it mattered the most as well. 

The Winners

At this point, there’s not much Pete Alonso could do to have the Orioles fanbase turn on him. He came into town and immediately became a fan favorite. From his high levels of production to his genuine appreciation for the fans, September really capped off a special season for Alonso. While the team failed to really end the year on a high note, you can’t blame the Polar Bear. 

With nine home runs and 19 RBI through 21 games in September, Alonso followed his best month of the season with another terrific effort. His .951 OPS was a big reason that the Orioles were even able to hang on for as long as they did. Alonso has taken over as the leader of the team and he could be why Baltimore has a bounce back year in 2027. 

Along with Alonso, the Orioles also had Anthony Nunez as another Orioles player giving it their all in September. Outside of allowing a single run against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 12, Nunez has been very good during the team’s final postseason push. With a microscopic 0.346 WHIP in 8.2 innings in September, he played a big role in stabilizing the team’s bullpen.  

Although his season was filled with ups and downs, Nunez locked in during crunch time and provided some quality innings for the Orioles. As a rookie pitcher, he has not withered away when the pressure of the season was at its peak. He’s given the Orioles a very solid debut effort and a lot to look forward to in the future. 

The Losers

Despite being the face of the franchise and the Orioles’ best player over the last several seasons, Gunnar Henderson dropped the ball in 2026 with an unfortunate regression in his offensive game. That all could have been erased with a strong September, but his .236/.337/.389 slash line through 20 games this month pretty much summed up his season as a whole. 

Henderson had an opportunity to make a poignant impact statement and help guide Baltimore back to the postseason. Instead, he became one of the biggest reasons that the team faltered down the stretch. It’s a shame too since he did show signs of breaking out of his season-long funk in August. 

Unlike Henderson, starting pitcher Brandon Young had a career year in 2026. He was never expected to be the club’s most consistent pitcher, but he provided the team with more than they could have hoped for. But after becoming the unsung hero of the Orioles’ pitching staff all season, Young decided to save his worst for last. 

With a 5.06 ERA through four September starts, Young hit a bit of a rough patch down the final stretch. While the Orioles were 19-8 in games started by Young throughout the season, they were just 1-3 in games he started in September. After surrendering 12 walks and 20 hits in just 21.1 innings pitched, it’s easy to see why Young faltered at the end.

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