We have officially entered the final piece of the Vibe Check series, and there is a lot to talk about.
September baseball has arrived, and the Baltimore Orioles are about to enter the biggest stretch of its 2026 season.
With postseason implications hanging in the balance, what happens on the field over these final few weeks could determine whether the Birds play meaningful baseball in October.
Let’s break down the final Vibe Check of 2026.
From 120 to 140
The last time we checked in, the Orioles went 9-11 during its previous 20-game stretch, and there was a lot going on. The pitching was looking great behind Shane Baz, the offense was struggling and the trade deadline had come and gone.
From August 12 through September 2, the Orioles have gone 11-9. Baltimore highlighted the stretch with a four-game winning streak that included a sweep, along with multiple two-game winning streaks to win different series.
With 22 games remaining in the season, the Orioles sit just two games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL Wild Card spot. There has been a 180 since the last Vibe Check, but there is still an agenda to complete as the season winds down.
Great Vibes: The Bullpen is Shut-Down
The Orioles bullpen has been phenomenal over the last 20 games, which has and will be huge down the stretch.
The bullpen has pitched 69.1 innings, allowing 55 hits and 19 earned runs while walking 24 and striking out 71. They have posted a 2.47 ERA, with three of the 11 pitchers used during the stretch yet to allow an earned run.
Leading the way is Alex Hoppe, who has pitched 7.1 shutout innings. Josh Walker (7 IP, 0.00 ERA) and Grant Wolfram (7.2 IP, 2.35 ERA) have also remained reliable from the left side.
The second tier features Andrew Kittredge (2.08 ERA in 8.2 IP) and Rico Garcia (0.90 ERA in 10 IP), who have been important back-end pieces. Albert Suárez has also been effective, pitching six innings to a 1.50 ERA.
Yennier Cano could also be included here. He has not allowed an earned run in his last six games, but two rough outings early in the stretch have left him with a 16.20 ERA overall in this 20-game sample.
Decent Vibes: Offensive Consistency
The Orioles offense has started to come around during this 20-game span.
The team is slashing .232/.301/.400 for a .701 OPS, recording 161 hits, 30 doubles, one triple and 28 home runs. They have also reached base another 69 times on 60 walks and nine hit-by-pitches.
Pete Alonso has been the highlight, slashing .309/.384/.548 for a .937 OPS with 26 hits, two doubles, six home runs and 15 RBIs.
Dylan Beavers has also been clutch during this stretch. He hit a home run in three straight games and followed the end of that streak with a walk-off double against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Beavers slashed .285/.354/.571 for a .925 OPS with 16 hits, five doubles, four home runs and 13 RBIs in those 20 contests.
Bad Vibes: Rotation Struggles
After posting a 3.92 ERA in the last Vibe Check, the Oriole rotation has struggled over the past 20 games.
The starting staff has pitched 111.1 innings, allowing 130 hits and 59 earned runs while walking 37 and striking out 97. They have posted a 4.77 ERA in that span.
The biggest concern is Kyle Bradish. In 21 innings, Bradish posted a 6.00 ERA, allowed 30 hits and had a 10-to-16 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Shane Baz and Trevor Rogers have also struggled, with ERAs above 4.80. Rogers sits at 4.83 while Baz has a 5.66 ERA.
Moving forward, the rotation needs to turn things around. The Orioles have used six pitchers, and only two have an ERA below four. Those two have combined for just 21.2 innings during this stretch.
Future Vibes: Season-Ending Agenda
There are 22 games left, and the Orioles are right in the middle of the AL Wild Card race.
The Birds currently sit two games behind the Cleveland Guardians while having one fewer game remaining. Baltimore finishes the season with four against Boston, three against Cleveland, three in Toronto, three against the Mets, three against Milwaukee, three against Toronto and three in New York against the Yankees.
The Orioles need to keep grinding out wins and put themselves in the best possible position heading into the final days of the season.
The bullpen is rolling. The offense is showing signs of life. Now, the rotation needs to follow suit.
With 22 games remaining, the Orioles still have a chance.
What are your thoughts on the vibes of this team, as it looks to push one final time for the postseason? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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