Orioles’ doubleheader sweep keeps them just alive

Christian Encarnacion-Strand on Wednesday homered and drove in three runs, while Trey Gibson took a shutout into the seventh inning as the Baltimore Orioles completed a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, winning 4-2 twice to stay in contention for the MLB playoffs.

Baltimore (78-81) must win their remaining three games and have the White Sox (81-77) lose their remaining four to have a chance for an American League wild-card spot.

Chicago fell 5-4 against the Kansas City Royals later on Wednesday.

The Baltimore Orioles’ Christian Encarnacion-Strand scores during the second of their two MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday.

Photo: Jamie LeBlanc / Imagn Images

The Orioles, playing their final home games, earlier eliminated Toronto from wild-card contention by winning in the afternoon portion of the day-night twin bill.

Davis Schneider hit a two-run ninth-inning homer off Felix Bautista in the nightcap for the Blue Jays (77-82). Nathan Lukes had two hits.

Gibson (2-3), a rookie who had not pitched in the major leagues since June 30, gave up three hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6-2/3 innings.

A two-out error by second baseman Jeremiah Jackson extended Toronto’s seventh before Gibson walked Schneider, who was the last batter he faced.

Reliever Yennier Cano entered and walked Charles McAdoo to load the bases before striking out Myles Straw.

Josh Walker and Bautista each worked an inning to close out the six-hitter.

The Orioles next visit the New York Yankees (who on Wednesday beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2), while the Blue Jays are to return home to face the Cincinnati Reds.

The post-season is rapidly approaching, with the Los Angeles Dodgers seeking a third straight World Series title.

It remains to be seen how much some of the game’s biggest stars will be able to participate in the playoffs, though.

The Dodgers are once again among the best teams in the big leagues, but they have several challengers in their way, including the Milwaukee Brewers and the Rays.

They also dropped a game on Wednesday, beaten 5-1 by the San Diego Padres.

The Yankees, the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves (3-2 winners over the Reds) have also clinched spots in the post-season.

While the 12-team playoff field appears mostly set, there are a few long-shot contenders for the post-season.

Manny Machado homered and drove in three runs as the Padres moved to the brink of their third consecutive playoff appearance.

Fernando Tatis Jr had three hits as the Padres (88-70) reduced their magic number for clinching a National League wild-card spot to one.

San Diego were in the top NL wild-card position, one game ahead of the Chicago Cubs (87-71 after losing to the Miami Marlins 3-2) and the Philadelphia Phillies (87-71) — who lost 4-1 to the Brewers.

In his return to the active roster after recovering from knee and biceps injuries, Shohei Ohtani went one-for-four with a walk as the Dodgers (97-61) saw their 11-game home winning streak end.

In Seattle, Josh Naylor singled home Randy Arozarena with the winning run in the 10th inning as the Mariners kept their slim playoff hopes alive by rallying past the Houston Astros 6-5.

Houston (78-80) remained tied atop the AL West with Texas, who have lost three straight games. The Astros hold the tiebreaker if the teams finish with the same record. The Mariners (74-84) are four games back with four to play.