Orioles prefer keeping Chris Davis at first (O's lose 7-0)

The Yankees took batting practice today in a light rain at Camden Yards. Because the baseball gods have a wicked sense of humor.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter already has a lineup in mind for Thursday's series finale, but he's always prepared to make changes. He'd never post it early. There are too many variables.

"I try to stay one in advance to help you deal with tonight," he said.

Manny Machado figures to make most or all of the starts at shortstop as long as the Orioles keep a three-man bench. The equation changes if they select Paul Janish's contract, giving them a plus defender at shortstop and returning a Platinum Glove winner to the hot corner.

Showalter provides daily reminders that other players are capable of moving around the infield, a few also equipped to assist in the outfield.

"Chris (Davis) can play first, third, left and right," Showalter said. "Pete (Pedro Alvarez) can play first and third and has got more games at third base than Manny has. Ryan (Flaherty) can play all four infield positions and two outfield and also catch a little bit. Manny can play all three. I'd try to keep him away from second. And Jonathan (Schoop) can play second, short and third.

"It's something that we pride ourselves on. I know our players do, being able to bring what a need is."

The catchers also can flex their versatility.

"(Matt) Wieters could play first base, Caleb (Joseph) could play first base," Showalter said.

"(Mark) Trumbo can play first base and has played six or seven games at third. I try to keep all that in mind when I'm trying to move the things around late in the game."

Davis is "an option" to move across the diamond, Showalter added, but he's playing first base at an extremely high level. The Orioles don't want to tamper with it.

"I'd rather not do it because of what you said," Showalter said. "I'd rather not rob Peter to pay Paul. You've got something that's real good here, you really don't want to ...

"That's the thing with Manny when he and I were talking. I just don't want to go back and forth with Manny. I want him to concentrate on shortstop and play that until J.J. (Hardy) gets back potentially. That's one way to look at it. Or you play third and don't think about shortstop anymore. And I think that's the conclusion we came to talking to him is I don't want to start going back and forth. And even though he's played a lot of shortstop in the shift and played a lot in his career, it's a different preparation and I think you need to have respect for the player's preparation to play a position on a given night."

Showalter hasn't faced much resistance, though Machado campaigned in his office to start at shortstop last night.

"Would they do it? They always end it with, 'Hey, whatever the team (needs), I got it,'" Showalter said. "Nobody asks a player's opinion or what his thoughts are in a perfect world if you're not going to be swayed by what they think. I do ask their opinion and it means a lot that they feel comfortable giving it to me if it's different than mine."

It's apparent that Machado prefers playing shortstop in his perfect world. Having Schoop, a close friend, as his double play partner adds to the dynamic.

Showalter appreciates the enthusiasm that's one of the trademarks of his club.

"I love the fact that they have fun playing the game," Showalter said. "I live through them a lot. It's fun to watch. It is. And the last thing you want to do is suppress any of that. I mean, gosh, it keeps us all young. They're fun to watch, how much fun they have with each other.

"I have to get out of the way though sometimes, let them get all their things (celebrating) out."

Note: The Orioles selected first baseman Trey Mancini as their minor league Player of the Month for April and left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger as their Pitcher of the Month.

Mancini, an eighth-round pick in the 2013 draft out of Notre Dame, batted .302/.413/.698 with four doubles, seven home runs and 14 RBIs in 17 games with Double-A Bowie before moving up to Triple-A Norfolk on April 25.

Cleavinger was 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA in six appearances, five of them scoreless, over 14 2/3 innings. He allowed 10 hits, walked eight and struck out 21.

Cleavinger, 22, was selected in the third round of the 2015 draft out of the University of Oregon.

Update: Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner singled with one out in the sixth and Carlos Beltran lifted a sacrifice fly to give New York a 1-0 lead. Adam Jones appeared to have a play at the plate, but he didn't make a throw.

Brian McCann added an RBI single with two outs, and another run scored on Tyler Wilson's throwing error. Yankees 3, Orioles 0.

Ellsbury had the only hit off Wilson when the inning started. Wilson had retired 15 of 17.

Update II: McCann stroked a two-run double to right field off T.J. McFarland with no outs in the eighth to increase the lead to 5-0. McCann took third on the throw and scored on Didi Gregorius' RBI single off Dylan Bundy.

Bundy hit Gardner on the elbow with the bases loaded, two outs and the count full to increase the Yankees' lead to 7-0.

Update III: The Orioles lose to the Yankees 7-0 and are shut out for the second time this season.

Their winning streak against the Yankees ends at six games.