More on the bench, Borbon and O'Day

NEW YORK - Orioles bench coach John Russell will meet with the media in the visiting dugout around 5:25 p.m. and he can explain why third baseman Manny Machado is out of the lineup.

This doesn't happen without a suspension. He's got to be sick with the same stomach virus that's keeping manager Buck Showalter at the team hotel and first baseman Chris Davis out of the lineup.

The bench appears to be down to a healthy Julio Borbon. Davis still was weak yesterday and catcher Matt Wieters is hobbled with a swollen right foot.

Borbon found out yesterday morning from Double-A Bowie manager Gary Kendall that the Orioles were selecting his contract.

"I was at the hotel," he said. "He told me I was coming up here. It's pretty exciting news. I'm just very happy to be here and ready to contribute.

"It's one of those where I guess the longer it gets, you start realizing and thinking about it, but I think the most important thing for me was to kind of put my head down and keep working every day, no matter where I was. At the end of the day, sometimes it's hard. You realize, O.K., I'm here, but what I wanted to work on and focus on was work out and go after everything as if I was there.

"Whenever I got the chance, it didn't catch me off-guard, so I think that's the most important thing and not look outside and kind of stay in your own world of doing things you can control because at the end of the day, that's what it comes down to."

Borbon is back in the majors for the first time since 2013.

"It feels great," he said. "There's definitely been a lot of work behind closed doors, a lot of things that people don't see that pay off. I'll tell that to anybody. I've been here before. It still feels like something that feels like the first time. You don't take one day for granted. You just come out here and go about your business and do the things you're asked to do and the best you can."

Borbon could have changed organizations, but he chose twice to re-sign with the Orioles on minor league deals. He saw an opportunity. He saw a place he wanted to play.

"Just being around the group of guys, Buck Showalter and the way the organization is, the way that things were, it's just the right fit for me," he said. "Knowing everybody, coming up with C.D., playing with (Darren) O'Day and a bunch of these guys is just something that felt like it's the right chemistry and all around think that I actually felt comfortable and the opportunity was there."

O'Day said he'll throw one inning Friday night at Bowie and he may be the starter. Just don't read anything into it. He isn't transitioning into the rotation.

O'Day is expected to be activated from the disabled list Sunday or Monday. He's making steady progress, including yesterday's simulated game.

"Excited," he said. "Feels good. Felt good to get out and face hitters yesterday. Just kind of have the competition back. Look forward to it."

One appearance at Bowie should be ample.

"I hope so. I don't know," he said. "Just kind of depends on how it goes, how my delivery is and everything. We'll see."

O'Day's primary goal on Friday besides feeling good physically is to repeat his delivery.

"It's been, what, six or seven weeks since I've pitched in a game, so just to get familiar with that again," he said. "Make sure the delivery's good and I'm putting the ball where I want to. Make sure with the uptick in intensity that I feel fine the next day. All that good stuff."