Suárez continues with 'phenomenal job' as AL Wild Card roster crunch looms?

MINNEAPOLIS -- Albert Suárez has waited a long time to get an opportunity to pitch in the MLB postseason. As a rookie in 2016, he wasn’t included on the Giants’ postseason roster. He later left the United States, spending five years pitching in Japan (‘19-21) and Korea (‘22-23).

Now, the 34-year-old right-hander may have to wait at least a little bit longer for a taste of the playoffs.

On Sunday afternoon, Suárez tossed six quality innings in the Orioles’ regular-season finale at Target Field, where they ended 91-71 with a 6-2 win. The most noteworthy event to transpire during the inconsequential contest was the usage of Suárez, who could now be left off the roster for the upcoming American League Wild Card Series vs. the Royals (which starts Tuesday at Camden Yards).

• Postseason FAQ: What's next for the Orioles?

Corbin Burnes has already been announced as Baltimore’s Game 1 starter, with it widely assumed that Zach Eflin will start Wednesday’s Game 2 and Dean Kremer will be tabbed to start a potential Game 3 on Thursday. That left Suárez and rookie left-hander Cade Povich as the two starters who could possibly be shifted to the bullpen.

After Sunday’s developments, it seems unlikely that will be the case with Suárez, who threw 71 pitches while allowing only two runs vs. Minnesota. Meanwhile, Povich is likely to be moved to the ‘pen for the Wild Card Series after throwing 79 pitches over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his final regular-season start against the Twins on Friday.

Suárez will be down for a few days and likely couldn’t pitch in relief until at least Wednesday (or maybe even Thursday).

However, manager Brandon Hyde was noncommittal when asked about pitching plans.

“Well, we’re making roster decisions for the Wild Card round. With a short series, we just have a lot of things in play,” Hyde said. “He pitched great, though. Awesome start, six great innings, and continuing to do what he’s done all year.”

If the Orioles advance past the AL Wild Card Series, they would play the AL East champion Yankees in the AL Division Series, which begins Saturday at Yankee Stadium. If Baltimore uses all three of Burnes, Eflin and Kremer in the Wild Card Series, then Suárez would be the favorite to start Game 1 of the ALDS.

Whenever Suárez gets asked to take the ball, he’ll be ready. That’s been the case all year -- even when he was asked to start 10 minutes before first pitch in Toronto on Aug. 6, when Grayson Rodriguez was scratched due to a right lat/teres strain.

“It feels good to be able to help the team throughout the season,” Suárez said. “It’s all positive, the season that I had.”

The O’s may not even be going to the postseason this year if not for Suárez, who stepped up big for a rotation that lost Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to season-ending UCL surgeries in June and was often without Rodriguez (two IL stints and out for the postseason).

Suárez finished his first season in Baltimore with a 3.70 ERA over 32 games (24 starts). He collected 108 strikeouts in 133 2/3 innings, and he recorded eight scoreless starts. Suárez allowed two or fewer runs in 14 starts.

“As we were walking in from the bullpen today, I said, ‘Regardless of how today goes, your last start of the season, just know we’re not who we are without you.’ That’s saying a lot for a guy who was an invite to camp,” said catcher James McCann, who hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth. “He did a phenomenal job. Who he is as a player is obviously great, but also who he's been as a teammate in the clubhouse. He’s a great guy, and I’m really happy for his success.”

It’s the same type of jubilation that Suárez has had about pitching for the Orioles, who are heading to the postseason for the second straight year.

Baltimore, which went 33-33 in the second half, built positive momentum during the final week of the regular season, going 5-1 on a road trip in which it faced the Yankees and Twins. Some of the scores in Minnesota may not have mattered -- the O’s clinched the No. 4 seed on Friday, when the Twins were also eliminated -- but the Orioles still got hot.

“Guys are having fun again,” McCann said. “Losing stinks. Sometimes, it’s the way the game rolls that no matter what you do, no matter how many different things you try, you just don’t come out of that rut. This last week was really good to see guys swing the bat well, guys throwing the ball well, defense playing well, really all aspects of the game.”