Manny Machado expects to return to Orioles Saturday

The Orioles are hoping to avoid another scare with their Gold Glove third baseman.

Manny Machado did not play Friday in the second game of a series against the Cleveland Indians. He had left the Thursday night, 13-inning affair in the 11th inning with a stiff groin and was listed as day-to-day. Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com says that Machado is not expected to return to the disabled list, and could conceivably return to the lineup on Saturday. He did nothing on Friday, save for taking a few swings in the cage.

Machado has already spent more time on the disabled list this year than either he or fans of the game of baseball want. He began the season there as he rehabbed from last year’s knee surgery. This season, Machado has only gotten to play in 20 games, and has hit to a .229/.270/.277 slash with a homer. He has made several spectacular defensive plays already, like this one, and it’s understandable that the club would want to take it easy with the 21-year old, especially as he is just coming back to active duty. Manager Buck Showalter affirmed this as he spoke to the media.

"I think for Manny and everything he’s done to get back to this point, to have a setback on the DL, we really want to try to stay away from that. Physically, for what it means for our club, as much as emotionally, mentally too."

There is every possibility that Showalter goes the conservative route and gives Machado another day of rest and brings him back on Sunday. Ryan Flaherty played third base for Machado both Thursday and Friday.