Honestly, if you were watching those final innings in the Bronx back in late September, you saw a team that had basically checked out. The Orioles last 10 games were a microcosm of a year that went from "World Series favorites" to "let's just get to the airport." Baltimore finished 75-87. It's a gut punch. After winning 101 games in 2024, nobody—and I mean nobody—expected them to be 12 games under .500 and sitting in the AL East cellar.
But that's baseball. It's cruel.
The final stretch was particularly grim. They went 3-7 in their last 10. They got swept by the Yankees to end the season, punctuated by a 3-2 loss on September 28th that felt like a merciful end to a long, slow slide. You've got to look at the context here: by the time they hit that final week, the manager who won them the division in '24, Brandon Hyde, had been gone for months. Fired in May. That should tell you everything you need to know about how off the rails this thing went.
The Brutal Reality of the Orioles Last 10 Games
Looking at the game logs, the wheels didn't just fall off; the whole axle snapped. Baltimore ended the season on a three-game losing streak against New York. They lost 8-4, 6-1, and 3-2. Before that, they had a weird little series against the Rays at Camden Yards where they actually managed to win two out of three.
They beat Tampa 6-0 on September 23rd behind a decent start, then lost 6-2, and managed to scrape out a 6-5 win on September 25th. That was the last time the home crowd saw a win. Kinda depressing when you think about it.
The pitching staff was a rotating door of "who's that?" and "why is he still here?" After losing Corbin Burnes in the offseason and seeing Grayson Rodriguez go down for the entire year with an injury, the front office panicked. They brought in guys like Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano. Combined with Kyle Gibson, that trio of veterans ended up with a collective ERA of 5.49.
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In the Orioles last 10 games, that lack of high-end rotation depth was glaring. When you're asking Dean Kremer to be your "workhorse" and he's sporting a 4.19 ERA, you aren't winning a lot of series in the AL East.
Where the Offense Went to Die
It wasn't just the pitching. The bats went cold at the exact wrong time. Or rather, they never really warmed up. Gunnar Henderson was the only real bright spot, hitting .274 with 17 homers, but he was carrying the world on his shoulders. Jackson Holliday had a decent rookie-ish campaign with 17 homers of his own, but the regression from the rest of the lineup was staggering.
Adley Rutschman? He hit .220.
Colton Cowser? Down to .196.
Tyler O'Neill? He was the big $49 million signing to replace Santander. He played 54 games and finished with a .684 OPS.
It was a disaster.
In those final 10 games, the O's were outscored significantly. They gave up 3, 6, and 8 runs to the Yankees. They gave up 6 to the Rays. They even struggled against a mediocre Detroit team earlier in September. Basically, the lineup couldn't produce enough to cover for a pitching staff that was throwing batting practice.
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Breaking Down the Final Series in the Bronx
The September 26-28 series was supposed to be a rivalry showcase. Instead, it was a funeral.
The first game was a mess—8-4 Yankees. Baltimore's pitchers walked six guys. You can't do that at Yankee Stadium. The second game was even worse, a 6-1 drubbing where the O's only managed seven hits. By the time Sunday rolled around, everyone just wanted to go home. They kept it close, losing 3-2, but the energy was gone.
If you look at the Orioles last 10 games as a whole:
- They won 2 against Tampa Bay.
- They won 1 against Detroit (earlier in the month).
- They lost 3 to New York.
- They lost 2 to Tampa.
- They lost 2 to Detroit.
Total record: 3-7. Not exactly the "fighting until the end" narrative the front office wanted to sell.
The Problem With the "One-Year Deal" Strategy
Baltimore's owner, David Rubenstein, and the front office took a massive gamble. They thought they could replace a Cy Young winner like Burnes with a bunch of 40-year-olds on one-year contracts. Fans like James Donoughe, a lifelong supporter, have been vocal about how much of a mistake that was. You can't replace an ace with a committee of "innings eaters" who give up four runs by the third inning.
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By the time the Orioles last 10 games rolled around, the veterans were gassed. Zach Eflin, who was supposed to be a steady hand, spent most of the year on the IL and finished with an ERA near 6.00.
The ripple effect on the bullpen was massive. Seranthony Domínguez and Yennier Cano were used and abused early in the season because the starters couldn't go six innings. By September, the bullpen was a shell of itself. It’s why you saw so many late-inning collapses in that final stretch.
What Does This Mean for 2026?
Honestly, the Orioles are at a crossroads. They still have the young core—Henderson, Holliday, Westburg, and Rutschman—but the "potential" tag is starting to wear thin. You can't win on potential alone.
The Orioles last 10 games showed that without a true front-line starter, this team is a .500 club at best. They finished 19 games back of the Blue Jays and Yankees. That's a huge gap to bridge in one offseason.
They need to stop shopping in the "veteran bargain bin." If they don't go out and get a legitimate top-of-the-rotation arm this winter, 2026 is going to look a lot like 2025.
Actionable Insights for O's Fans
If you're wondering how they fix this, it’s not rocket science, though it’s gonna be expensive.
- Trade from the Farm: They still have a top-ranked farm system. It’s time to move some of those "future stars" for a pitcher who is an actual star right now.
- Lock up Gunnar: Henderson is the heart of this team. They need to extend him before his price tag hits $400 million.
- Re-evaluate the Training Staff: 29 players on the IL in one season isn't just bad luck; it’s a systemic issue. They need to figure out why everyone is breaking.
- Find a Manager with Backbone: Firing Hyde was a shock, but the interim leadership didn't do much better. They need a veteran manager who can handle the big personalities and the pressure of a rebuild-gone-wrong.
The Orioles last 10 games were a bitter pill to swallow. It was the "merciful end" to a season that started with so much promise. But the silver lining? They can't possibly be this unlucky with injuries again. Right? Let’s hope. Otherwise, it’s going to be another long summer at Camden Yards.