Machado lands AL Player of Week honors
Third baseman hit .458 with 2 homers, 5 RBIs to lead Orioles to 5-1 mark
Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has been named the American League Player of the Week for the second time in his career.
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Machado hit .458 (11-for-24) with nine runs, two home runs, a double and five RBIs over six games. He was tied for first in the AL in runs and hits, tied for second in total bases (18) and was third in batting average.
"It feels good. It was a good week for the team," Machado said. "It was mostly a team thing. If it wasn't for my teammates and guys getting on base, I wouldn't have been here."
He recorded four multi-hit games in six contests and is riding a season-high-tying eight-game hitting streak, dating to June 6. Over the course of the streak, he has hit .455 (15-for-33). Six of the eight games have been multihit.
On Saturday, Machado went 3-for-5 with two runs, a home run and a career-high four RBIs. Over the course of the week, he raised his batting average by 20 points (to .286) and helped the Orioles to a 5-1 record.
Machado hit safely in 38 of his past 49 games entering Monday.
The third baseman's numbers have improved at the plate since he was placed into the leadoff role on May 2 against Tampa Bay. Entering Monday, Machado was batting .294 in 40 games at the leadoff spot, and he said it's allowed him to learn the game a little bit more and how pitchers are throwing to him.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter also commented on how Machado is starting to pick up some of the attributes of a conventional leadoff hitter, which has helped multiple attributes of his game.
"The more he does it, it almost seems like he is running a little more, bunting a little more, kind of taking on the attributes of a leadoff guy kind of by osmosis," Showalter said. "He is running better than he ever has as an Oriole."
Other players considered included Russell Martin (.429, nine runs, two homers, eight RBIs) of the Blue Jays; Miguel Cabrera (.588, 1.000 slugging, three homers, seven RBIs) and David Price (1-0, 0.00 ERA, one shutout) of the Tigers; Albert Pujols (.435, .913 SLG, three homers, seven RBIs) of the Angels; Jake McGee (three saves, 0.00 ERA, six strikeouts) of the Rays; and Jose Abreu (.409, three homers, seven RBIs, 18 total bases) of the White Sox.