BALTIMORE — The Orioles are bracing themselves for Manny Machado's suspension, whenever it actually takes place.
The consensus Sunday morning with manager Buck Showalter was Monday, in which case Baltimore would a man down on its roster while Machado sits out for five games for his bat-throwing incident June 8 against Oakland.
Not that Showalter wanted to say much about the time taken to rule on said suspension.
“I’m already on double-secret probation,” he joked before Sunday’s game. “I’ve got to be careful. … They’re trying to get it right. Maybe it’s a sign that they’re going to reduce it all. Want to bet on that one?
“An educated guess … I think we’ll probably hear something here shortly. In the next day or two.”
The Orioles have a plan in place to make due when Machado misses time — he started at third base and batted seventh Sunday — but Showalter said it’s a fluid process right now.
“Because of the unknown, if we wait until that day, then we probably haven’t done our job,” Showalter said. “We have two or three different scenarios in place that we can move quickly on. Because a lot depends on where you are in your bullpen, how you feel about the health.
“Something could happen out here with an infielder or something today that changes the way you look at it.”
Machado, who appealed the suspension last Wednesday, will be allowed to work out with the ballclub before games, but Orioles fans won’t see him in the dugout during the suspension.
The roster could be in flux over the next few days, depending on whether Baltimore needs some pitching help or extra bench players while playing a man down.
“I really don’t want to get into a habit of sending people out that are doing their job,” Showalter said. “That just doesn’t feel right. So I hope that doesn’t happen, but sometimes it does up here.”
GOOD COMPANY: Nick Markakis doubled in the third inning Sunday and collected his 100th hit of the season, which made him the eighth player in Orioles history to reach the century mark in nine different seasons. Cal Ripken Jr. has the most with 19, followed by Brooks Robinson (16), and Eddie Murray (12). Melvin Mora, Brady Anderson, Ken Singleton, and Boog Powell have nine each.
UP NEXT: The Orioles host Texas for a four-game series beginning Monday. Ubaldo Jimenez (2-8) was the lone scheduled starting pitcher in Baltimore’s pre-game notes, getting the opener, but Showalter said he’s leaning toward giving Chris Tillman (7-4) five days rest and pitching him Wednesday. Tuesday’s starter is to be determined, and Showalter said Wei-Yin Chen (7-3) is slated to start Thursday.
The Rangers have Joe Saunders (0-4), Nick Martinez (1-5), Nick Tepesch (3-3), and Yu Darvish (8-4) as their scheduled starters.
Reach staff writer Pat Stoetzer at 410-857-7894 or pat.stoetzer@carrollcountytimes.com.
