Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country.
In defiance of what anyone could have imagined for the Orioles when they traded away the players they did before the trade deadline, they have not only hung around in the wild card race but they have, at least at the time of this writing, managed to plop themselves into one of the wild card spots.
Had the O’s sank like many people, perhaps even Mike Elias, expected, then it would not much matter when their injured players worked their way back. Now, it might actually matter when players return from the injured list. Samuel Basallo has already started on a rehab assignment. Pleasant surprise infielder/outfielder Blaze Alexander might be not too far behind that.
There could also be help for the bullpen, though things are more vague about when either Félix Bautista or Ryan Helsley might make their way back. Without Tyler Wells in that mix, they are sure going to need some more dependable arms to appear. It is far too early to say whether a returned Bautista or Helsley would be a dependable arm, but there’s no harm for a fan in believing.
This week’s site poll is about which of these players you think will be the biggest help to the Orioles between now and season’s end. Results will be posted on Friday or Saturday, so make sure you let vote below:
It is going to be a little while yet before even Basallo, the closest of these guys to a return, is able to make it back. Hopefully the Orioles don’t do one of their patented 2026 “get your hopes up only to crush them even harder” stretches of games before the IL guys can start to make it back.
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