The Orioles' 2024 postseason journey begins today

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

It's time, people. The MLB postseason begins today with four Wild Card Series tournaments, and the Orioles still have some unfinished business.

The O's are attending the big party for the second straight year, but last year's sudden exit – with three disappointing games in the Division Series after a magical 101-win regular season – left a sour taste in everyone's mouth. The Birds' three losses extended their MLB-worst postseason losing streak to eight straight games. They haven't won a playoff game since their ALDS win over the Tigers in 2014.

Today the O's begin a rematch with the Kansas City Royals, the team that gave them the first four of those eight straight losses with a win over the 2014 ALCS. If the Orioles want to turn their fortunes around after the season, there is no more suitable opponent than the Royals. The Orioles have some October demons to exorcise, and everyone needs to get out of their way.

The action begins at 4:08 this afternoon at Camden Yards, where two likely top-5 AL Cy Young players, Corbin Burnes and Cole Ragans, will face off in a duel of aces. Check out Camden Chat's coverage throughout the day, including personnel projections, a question-and-answer session with Royals Review and a breakdown of the Orioles' Wild Card Series roster, which will be announced this morning. We'll also thoroughly analyze every game of the Birds' postseason, which, if we're lucky, will extend well beyond the Wild Card Series.

First things first: The O's need to win two of their next three games to advance. It's now or never. The next few days – and hopefully weeks – are going to be wild. Let's go!

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Orioles roster prediction ahead of wild card series against Royals – The Baltimore Sun

Orioles-Royals position-by-position breakdown – MLB.com

Orioles not ready to announce wild card roster and other starters – School of Roch

O's eye sees brighter postseason future with more experienced roster – MLB.com

Playoff Roundtable: Are the Orioles better prepared for the postseason now? – The Baltimore Banner

On the other side of rebuilds, Orioles and Royals will flaunt parallels in wild-card series – The Baltimore Sun

Burnes on his September cutter and Ragans on his rocky start against Orioles – Steve Melewski

The bold move that led Gunnar Henderson to Orioles stardom: “We decided to skip six grades” – The Athletic

All the printable information about the postseason, plus a bonus article about the greatness of Gunnar Henderson.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy Birthday! Two members of the 2024 Orioles have birthdays today. One is a guy you probably don't remember, taxi squad catcher David Bañuelos (28), who totaled one hit for the O's. But the other is one of the most popular and longest-tenured Birds, Cedric Mullins, who will be celebrating his 30th birthday playing playoff baseball. While Mullins caused fans frustration in the first half this season, he became one of the Birds' most reliable batsmen when everyone else faltered in the second half. Will he be in the squad for today's opening game against the strong left-handed Ragans?

Former Orioles born on October 1 include right-hander Mitch Atkins (39), left-hander Chuck McElroy (57) and late first baseman Bob Boyd (b. 1919, d. 2004).

The Orioles have played two postseason games on this day in history, and both went quite well. In 1996, the O's made their first playoff appearance in 13 years by defeating Cleveland 10-4 at Camden Yards in Game 1 of the Division Series. The Birds' hitters had 12 hits, including four home runs, against Charles Nagy and three Cleveland relievers. The Orioles' 50-homer leadoff man Brady Anderson led off the game with a dinger, BJ Surhoff went yard twice and Bobby Bonilla hit a game-winning grand slam in the sixth that turned the game into a rout.

Exactly a year later, the O's opened the 1997 Division Series with another win, this time against the Mariners in Seattle. Against the threatening Hall of Fame southpaw Randy Johnson, Orioles manager Davey Johnson surprisingly benched star left-handers Rafael Palmeiro, Roberto Alomar and BJ Surhoff. His unorthodox lineup scored five runs in five innings off the big unit, including a home run by Gerónimo Berroa, and the O's tallied four more against reliever and future Oriole Mike Timlin. Meanwhile, Mike Mussina dominated Seattle's lineup for seven innings, holding them to two runs.

Random Orioles Game of the Day

On October 1, 2015, the O's defeated the Blue Jays 6-4 in a Thursday matinee at Camden Yards, their fourth-to-last game of the year. Manny Machado hit two home runs as part of a 3-for-4 day, Steve Pearce contributed an RBI double and seven O's pitchers combined to beat the Jays. The Orioles were long out of playoff contention, but they won their final five games of the year and finished the season with a .500 record.