Injury Updates: Machado to DL, Verlander gets MRI results
Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
August 13, 2014: Machado lands on DL
Although the Orioles were hoping to keep Manny Machado from the disabled list, it has now been made clear that Machado will be out for the next two weeks due to his right knee strain. The move is retroactive to Tuesday. Machado suffered the injury on Monday in a game against the New York Yankees.
The Orioles have called up catcher Cord Phelps to take Machado’s spot on the active roster according to Mike Axisa on MLB.com.
Orginal Text: August 12, 2014
The results of two MRIs came out Tuesday both were for key players on key teams contending for playoff spots. While the results of an MRI are never great, the fact that the player is having one at all is big sign they probably won’t be, the results for both Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman Manny Machado and Detroit Tigers’ starting pitcher Justin Verlander came out better than expected.
Machado, who crumpled to the ground, clutching his right knee after an awkward swing during an at-bat against the New York Yankees Monday night and had crutches by his locker while talking to the media after the game, was diagnosed with a ligament strain.
Reports are optimistic that he may avoid the being on the disabled list for what would be the second time this season. Machado began the year on the disabled list after having seriously injured his left knee and undergoing knee surgery in September of last year.
The reports don’t mean that Machado won’t end up on the disabled list. Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter made a statement regarding Machado and fellow injured infielder J.J. Hardy before the results of the MRI were released.
"“I’m not going to handicap it, I don’t know yet, but just because someone goes on the DL doesn’t mean that he’s not going to play again this year, or he’s going to have surgery or this and that. Sometimes that does clean it up. Right now we’ve got rooms for both of them in Chicago and Cleveland.”"
Still the Orioles ended up with a day off Tuesday as their game with the Yankees was rained out and with an off day on Thursday who knows? Maybe Machado’s sprain will start to heal with a little time off, then again maybe not. But Showalter also said that Machado,
"“He was optimistic (Monday) night. … Unfortunately, he’s had a little experience with it, so he knows the difference. He’s joking around and speaking very positively.”"
That was certainly not the case when Machado was carted off the field last season and his positive demeanor means it’s certainly not as bad as it initially appeared during the game.