Machado awaits hearing for suspension appeal

BALTIMORE -- Manny Machado will not begin serving his five-game suspension this weekend, and it looks increasingly as if Machado will wait until his appeal is heard.

Manager Buck Showalter wouldn't divulge the exact date of the hearing, but it doesn't look like it will be held during next weekend's three-game series in New York, when the Orioles face the Yankees, starting Friday. But it could occur on Thursday, when the Orioles have an off-day before the start of that series.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say and not say and what have you," Showalter said prior to Friday's game against the Blue Jays. "I know that serving the suspension is not imminent."

Machado, who was handed a five-game suspension and a fine for his role in a benches-clearing incident on Sunday that included him throwing his bat, is hoping for a reduced sentence. When Machado does serve his suspension, regardless of length, the Orioles will need to add an infielder, which will change their roster construction since they will have to play a man down.

"When you look at the precedents of other situations like this, we feel like, and Manny feels like, it's a little strong," Showalter said of the five-game punishment. "I got some clarity on what I think we are going to be dealing with. Just a matter of how many games."