Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cleveland Indians at Camden Yards, but manager Buck Showalter said the team believes Machado can avoid going on the disabled list.
Machado left Thursday's 8-7, 13-inning loss to Cleveland in the top of the 12th inning with right groin stiffness.
"I think it was better than we thought it would be today," Showalter said. "It's the proverbial day-to-day. We'll see what the next day or so brings, but we don't think it's a DL-able thing at this point."
Machado said his groin felt much better Friday, and he even hoped he could return to the starting lineup Saturday.
"I hope so," Machado said. "I'm not going to give you a for-sure answer, but we'll know more tomorrow. Today, we're going to keep treating it, and hopefully it gets better tomorrow, and hopefully I can be there. But right now, we're taking it day by day, and we'll see how it feels."
Machado said he planned to rest the injury Friday. He said he might do some light hitting in the indoor batting cages, but no pregame work on the field.
"Just taking it light, taking it easy," Machado said. "Just [an] easy day, a couple of swings and get ready for the game, just in case I need to go out there for a couple of innings.
"Running is the biggest thing. That's about it. It didn't bother me hitting or fielding, so it's just a matter of that first step, which is what bothers the most, but hopefully it doesn't bother me anymore."
In other news:
-- Left-hander T.J. McFarland arrived in Baltimore on Friday afternoon, and the team is planning to officially recall him from Triple-A Norfolk. McFarland was scheduled to start for Norfolk tonight, but he will offer some much-needed bullpen depth after five relievers accounted for 6 2/3 innings in last night's 13-inning game. Right-hander Preston Guilmet, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings last night, is the most likely choice to go down.
--The Orioles could use Chris Davis’ upcoming paternity leave to give them some added bullpen relief. Davis’ wife, Jill, is expected to be induced Sunday morning, and Davis tentatively is scheduled to miss Sunday's and Monday’s games. In placing Davis on the paternity list — he can be away for up to three days — the team can call up a pitcher, such as Guilmet, if he is optioned, and circumvent the 10-day window players must stay in the minors after being optioned.
-- Showalter said a decision hasn't been made on whether right-hander Tommy Hunter, placed Thurssay on the DL, will join the team for their road trip to Milwaukee, Houston and Texas.
"I think that will have to do with the evaluation of whether he can maybe throw [a minor league rehabilitation game] somewhere during the trip," Showalter said. "In that case, we might leave him back here."
He could go with the team on the road, remain in Baltimore or be sent to Sarasota, Fla.
-- Right-hander Chris Tillman will remain on turn and make his next start Monday afternoon in Milwaukee, Showalter said.
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-- Catcher Steve Clevenger, a Pigtown native, visited Overlook Elementary School, which he attended.
-- With Machado out of the lineup, second baseman Jonathan Schoop will hit in the No. 2 spot for the first time in his major league career. He hit in the No. 2 spot at every minor league level since Low-A Delmarva.
-- Showalter celebrated his 58th birthday Thursday and was given a cake of a basset hound (Showalter's family has four basset hounds).
"I messed up my math," Showalter said as he walked into his pregame media session. "I thought I was 59. I got to thinking about it on the way in, and I said, "Hey, I'm only 58. I picked up a year. It made my day."
Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Orioles
Nick Markakis RF
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Adam Jones CF
Chris Davis 1B
Nelson Cruz LF
J.J. Hardy SS
Delmon Young DH
Ryan Flaherty 3B
Caleb Joseph C
Bud Norris RHP
Indians
Michael Bourn CF
Mike Aviles 2B
Michael Brantley LF
Lonnie Chisenhall 3B
David Murphy RF
Carlos Santana 1B
Jason Giambi DH
Yan Gomes C
Justin Sellers SS
T.J. House LHP