Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays Clinch Playoff Berths While Playing Each Other

The rare "simultaneous playoff berth" was achieved on Sunday afternoon as both the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles clinched spots in the postseason despite playing each other.

You can't spell October without the O's. pic.twitter.com/623z6jdnE0
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 17, 2023

For the 5th year in a row, WE ARE IN! pic.twitter.com/C3YOcs2wIE
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) September 17, 2023

It's the fifth year in a row that the Rays have clinched a spot in October while it's the first time that the Orioles have been in the playoffs since 2016.

The Rays trip to the playoffs is fairly remarkable considering all they've lost this season. They've undergone injuries to multiple starting pitchers as Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs are all out for the season. They also are without their best overall player, Wander Franco, who is being investigated for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors.

As for the Orioles, it's also incredible to see them back in the playoffs considering how young they are. Playing with Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez and others, the team has excelled after being one of the worst teams in baseball for years.

With both teams in the playoffs, the biggest question is now who will win the American League East and get the top overall seed in the playoffs. Entering play on Sunday, the O's had a 1.0 game lead on the Rays for those distinctions.

At the time of this posting, the two teams are tied at 4-4 in the top of the 11th inning. While the result doesn't affect either teams ability to make the playoffs, it has a major impact on the divisional race.

Each team entered play on Sunday with 92 wins.