Orioles could make bold Craig Albernaz decision for one reason

The Baltimore Orioles are having a very disappointing season compared to expectations. Coming into the year, this was supposed to be a return to the playoffs.

Instead, the Orioles have squandered a good chance in a wide-open AL and sit at 65-69 on the season with the likelihood of making the postseason slim. It's been a rough first season for Craig Albernaz as manager, and things could get worse from here.

Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated believes the Orioles could decide to move on from Albernaz as manager after just one season if one thing happens: Baltimore struggles down the home stretch of the regular season.

Orioles could fire Craig Albernaz if home stretch goes poorly

"Albernaz was only just hired by the Orioles last offseason, but the team's struggles could spell an early end to his tenure," Rasmussen writes. "... It wouldn't be a surprise if Albernaz got a second season at the helm, but if Baltimore struggles down the stretch, the 43-year-old could wind up as being a one-and-done."

The Orioles are on the outside looking in for the MLB postseason, but in a weak American League, they're just 3.0 games out.

It would not be a total surprise if they got hot to end the season and wound up making the postseason, taking the third and final Wild Card spot.

Being the third Wild Card team in the AL would be a good thing, as that team will most likely face the winner of the AL West, a division whose leader is at .500 on August 28.

Making the postseason is within the realm of possibility for the Orioles and Albernaz. But there's also a scenario in which the Orioles struggle in September and fall well out of the postseason hunt.

That, combined with the overall disappointment of this iteration of the Orioles, which might be coming to an end after the trade of Adley Rutschman, could lead to Albernaz getting fired after just one season.

The Orioles can't fully start another rebuild; it would be way too depressing. So, the Orioles might decide to give it one more chance in 2027 with Albernaz and this version of the Orioles.

But if things go south and end the regular season for the Orioles, then Albernaz could wind up being relieved of his duties following the 2026 season in a brutal one-and-done stint as manager for the first time in his career.