BALTIMORE -- For much of August and September, Jordan Westburg did everything he could to still help the Orioles while on the injured list. Sidelined by a right hand fracture sustained on July 31, the 25-year-old infielder wanted to be a good teammate while also remaining focused on a return before the end of the regular season.

So, Westburg went out on the field every day and ramped up his baseball activities, going from glovework to throws to eventually swings. Each night, he supported the O’s from the dugout.

On Sunday afternoon, Westburg got back to doing what he does best: playing baseball.

“I want to be a ballplayer, so as soon as they cleared me to get back to being one, I wanted to push myself as hard as I could,” Westburg said. “That’s kind of who I am, that’s who I pride myself on being, is a hard worker. I was optimistic that I could get back, and I knew that if I did get back, I wanted to be as ready as possible, so that’s all that was on my mind. …

“Hopefully, I can provide a little bit of a kickstart in the lineup for us and play with some energy.”

That’s already been the case, as Westburg immediately contributed upon his return during Baltimore’s 4-3 loss to Detroit at Camden Yards. The 2024 All-Star hit a game-tying double during a three-run rally in the fifth inning that began with a single by Ramón Urías, who was also reinstated from the injured list after missing three weeks due to a right ankle sprain.

The O’s missed an opportunity to clinch a postseason berth, though. They needed both a win and a Mariners loss, the latter of which later occurred. But Kerry Carpenter’s two home runs -- including a go-ahead leadoff blast in the sixth -- lifted the Tigers to victory in Baltimore.

The Orioles (86-70), who remain atop the American League Wild Card standings, won’t have an opportunity to punch a ticket to October until Tuesday, when they open a three-game series against the AL East-leading Yankees in New York.

It hasn’t been an easy second half for Baltimore, which is 28-32 since the All-Star break and has continually struggled to build any positive momentum. Westburg may not have been playing for close to two months, but he has experienced the adversity first hand.

“I’ve been around the guys, been around the team, kind of know what we’re going through. It’s tough,” Westburg said. “We just have to focus on what’s going on in here in this clubhouse. Not thinking about what’s going on outside, what people are saying, what could or couldn’t happen. We’ve just got to stay tight in here and really focus on the chemistry this last stretch and playing good baseball, and we’ll see what happens.”

It should help that the O’s are as close to full strength as they’ve been in months.

One week ago, right-handed reliever Jacob Webb and outfielder Heston Kjerstad returned. Then on Friday, top lefty reliever Danny Coulombe rejoined Baltimore’s bullpen.

Westburg and Urías are back and should provide significant boosts. Westburg slashed .269/.317/.497 with 25 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs and 58 RBIs over 101 games prior to his IL stint. And while Westburg was out, Urías played a big role in helping to fill the void.

The 30-year-old utility infielder had one of the best months of his five-year MLB career in August, when he hit .260 with two doubles, one triple, five homers, 17 RBIs and an .858 OPS in 27 games. From July 3 to Aug. 31, Urías posted a .291/.387/.504 slash line over 45 games.

“I had the best time of my career before the injury,” Urías said. “I’m ready to keep it going.”

The rest of the Orioles’ clubhouse is getting an adrenaline boost from the reinforcements.

“It’s awesome. To get Jordan and Ramón back, they’re huge parts of this team and definitely the reason why the team’s where we’re at with our positioning right now and chasing the playoffs,” Kjerstad said. “Two great players.”

More could be on the way, with Ryan Mountcastle (left wrist sprain) having played three rehab games at Triple-A Norfolk and nearing a return. There’s also a chance right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (right lat/teres strain) could make it back, too.

Maybe the final week of the regular season -- which will conclude with a three-game set at fellow AL Wild Card contender Minnesota -- can get the O’s rolling. They’re hoping to move past this series loss to the Tigers, get into the postseason for a second straight year and then make a lengthy run.

“Feeling good. Ready to go,” Urías said. “It’s going to be huge for us having the full team together for this last stretch.”