Baltimore Orioles: Sprained ligament for Manny Machado

The Baltimore Orioles scheduled an MRI for third baseman Manny Machado yesterday as a precaution, although x-rays taken on his right knee Monday night were negative. Nevertheless, we got official word late yesterday afternoon that Machado had a sprained ligament in his knee; it’s still unclear whether or not he’ll be DL-bound in some fashion. My guess would be that he’ll end up on the 15-day DL, but I’m not a medical professional.

Needless to say, this is probably good news for the Orioles. If Machado is sent to the DL, it

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would be retroactive to yesterday. That would make him eligible to come back to the Orioles right around Labor Day weekend – just in time for a stretch run. After the image of Buck Showalter and Richie Bancells helping Machado off the field on Monday night, I think the Orioles and their fans would take that. This isn’t to say that Machado’s presence in the lineup won’t be missed until then, but this is the hand that the Orioles have been dealt.

On a similar front, J.J. Hardy was also formally diagnosed with a sprained thumb, the result of a play at home plate on Saturday. The Orioles seem to think that Hardy has a good chance to be back for this weekend’s series in Cleveland, although that really depends on Hardy. The O’s go to Cleveland to rock out for three games this weekend, and then they’ll spend a week in Chicago (including an off day next Thursday). They’ll see the ChiSox for three games Monday – Wednesday, and then head to the north side to play the Cubbies for three games at the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field. One has to hope that the hotel rooms the Orioles have in the city are satisfactory given that the Birds will be using them for a week!

Last night’s game with New York of course was rained out. It will be made up as part of a split-admission doubleheader the next time New York comes to town, on September 12th. The makeup game will be at 1 PM on that Friday afternoon. Tickets and parking from yesterday’s game will all be honored. There were multiple options on the table in terms of making the game up, including playing the game tomorrow (which is a common off day for both teams).

Quite frankly it would have made a bit more sense to me under normal circumstances for them to play tomorrow (perhaps in the afternoon given that both teams would have to travel after the game). However Buck Showalter wanted to ensure that his guys got the day off that they were scheduled to get, and in fact they now have two off days this week due to the rain out. With both Machado and Hardy ailing, it also shaves down the number of games they might potentially miss.

The series with NY will be finished tonight, and Chris Tillman will take to the hill for the O’s against New York’s Michael Pineda. The O’s picked up a half game on Toronto last night without even having to take the field, as Seattle defeated the Jays.