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With playoff hopes dashed, Twins take on Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are riding high into October, primed for a deep playoff run. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins are left pondering where their once-promising season fell apart. As the two teams meet on Saturday for the second-to-last game of the regular season, their fates couldn’t be more different.
Orioles Secure Home-Field Advantage
The Orioles (89-71) are heading into the postseason with momentum. After a convincing 7-2 win over the Twins on Friday, Baltimore clinched home-field advantage in the American League wild-card round. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde expressed excitement about playing in front of the home crowd in what promises to be an electric playoff atmosphere.
“To get home field through the wild card is huge,” Hyde said. “We’re going to be pumped to play in front of our fans. There’s going to be a lot of energy and excitement in the ballpark, and our guys are really looking forward to that.”
The Orioles now have the luxury of fine-tuning their lineup for the postseason. Hyde admitted that the final two games in Minnesota carry little weight for the standings, and he’s still determining how to manage his pitching staff. Resting top arms for the playoffs seems like a priority.
“We’re still determining that right now,” Hyde said when asked about Saturday’s starting pitcher. “The next two days, we’re up in the air right now.”
Twins Reflect on a Collapse
While the Orioles are playoff-bound, the Twins (82-78) are left to reflect on what went wrong. Minnesota was 70-53 in mid-August, looking like a strong contender for the playoffs. But a brutal 12-25 skid over the last six weeks erased their postseason hopes. On Friday, their fate was sealed with a loss that officially eliminated them from contention.
“It was beyond disappointing, considering where we were,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “This will bother me forever. We had what looked like a promising season, and we couldn’t finish it.”
The frustration in Baldelli’s voice was clear as he addressed his team. He plans to use this disappointing finish as fuel for the future, but in the short term, his challenge is keeping the team focused for the final two games of the season, games that now feel meaningless in the standings.
“In a game we needed to win, we just didn’t have it,” Baldelli admitted after Friday’s loss. “These sound like harsh statements, but it’s also the truth.”
The Twins’ Offensive Woes
The offensive struggles that haunted the Twins in the final stretch were on full display in Friday’s defeat. They managed only two hits through the first eight innings, a microcosm of their problems down the stretch. Baldelli didn’t mince words, noting that performance isn’t something you can just wish into existence.
“We didn’t earn it, plain and simple,” he said. “If we had what it took, we would have shown it when the game was on the line.”
This offensive stagnation played a large role in the team’s collapse. The Twins simply couldn’t generate the firepower needed to win key games, a theme that persisted as they fell out of the playoff race.
Orioles Look to Stay Hot
For the Orioles, this weekend series is about maintaining momentum. One standout from Friday’s win was first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, who homered and went 3-for-5, matching his career high with 14 home runs. Hyde praised O’Hearn’s swing, noting that he seems to be peaking at the right time.
“That was one of his better swings in a while,” Hyde said. “To be able to get to something down and in and hit a long one, … that was a great swing.”
O’Hearn’s continued production will be key for the Orioles as they head into the postseason. His ability to deliver in crucial moments will be a valuable asset as Baltimore aims to make a deep run.
Rookie Matthews to Start for Twins
On the mound for the Twins will be rookie right-hander Zebby Matthews (1-3, 5.71 ERA). In what will be the ninth and final start of his debut season, Matthews is searching for his first win since August 13, when he won his major-league debut against the Royals. His performance on Saturday could be an important step in building his case for a larger role in the Twins’ future.
This will be Matthews’ first time facing the Orioles, and while the stakes are low, it’s a chance for him to end his rookie season on a high note.
Final Thoughts: A Study in Contrasts
As the Orioles and Twins meet in these final regular-season games, the contrast between the two teams is stark. The Orioles, with their postseason hopes alive and well, are fine-tuning for October baseball. The Twins, on the other hand, are left wondering what went wrong after a summer of promise dissolved into a disappointing finish.
For the Orioles, these games are about keeping momentum and preparing for the next challenge. For the Twins, it’s about pride—and trying to salvage a small victory before heading into a long offseason of reflection.
Baltimore may be looking ahead, but Minnesota can still use these games as motivation to bounce back stronger next year. After all, baseball is a game of seasons—where one year’s heartbreak can be the fuel for next year’s success.
