It would be hyperbolic to say that today’s Orioles game, the 118th of the season, is a must-win game for them. It is not. Their season and their hopes for a postseason berth will not be automatically over with a loss. It is, however, an important one to win. They have this home one-off against the Cubs, who are 49-67 on the season. There are not many games remaining against teams completely out of the AL playoff chase.
Every game from here on is going to be an important one for the Orioles, at least until they lose so many that it stops mattering for that reason.