Orioles roster getting back to normal (O's win 6-3)

The Orioles are back at full strength tonight, with Manny Machado in the lineup after completing his four-game suspension. It would seem to be cause for celebration. However, manager Buck Showalter didn't want to leave the impression that the club couldn't function without its All-Star third baseman.

"We try very hard not to have that type of feeling when any of our guys, for the most part, when someone's not there," Showalter said. "What's the saying? The greatest thing that parents can do is teach your kids how to survive without them. That's kind of where you have to be. And if we're depending on one player, we're not going to get this done.

"Nobody liked it, but you just don't dwell on it. I think that happens a lot during the course of the season. I'd like to know how many times we're going to have the nine guys we thought we would have actually on the field together the whole season. It doesn't happen very often. It's kind of like you take a little inventory every time there's an anthem and everybody's standing out there. It reminds you who's there and who's not there. But you might find something that you didn't expect there."

A full roster allows Showalter to pinch-hit or pinch-run in some instances where he was handcuffed without Machado. And it grows to 26 players for Saturday's doubleheader.

From rags to riches.

"It's a little bit easier, being able to do some things," Showalter said. "I think just feeling like you weren't constantly trying to get through another day, you know?

"It's kind of funny you go from playing with 24 to 26 tomorrow. They let you have the player for both games if it's a scheduled doubleheader. I'm not sure why."

The bullpen received a breather with yesterday's off-day and it gains an extra arm with T.J. McFarland reporting for the doubleheader.

That breather won't hold for long.

"I know when we get to Sunday after four games in 45 hours, we're going to be right back," Showalter said. "I'm hoping the pitcher we're adding kind of keeps us out of that, but we're right back in the fire tonight. If we get a short start, you're going to have some challenges again. But I think everybody's really in need of a day off at home."

Another one is coming Monday in San Diego. Not a bad spot to relax.

The roster will continue to undergo changes beyond Machado's return and McFarland's temporary inclusion.

Caleb Joseph may catch only one game at Single-A Frederick Monday night before flying to San Diego on Tuesday and being activated the next day. He'd take Francisco Pena's spot.

"If he feels good after Monday, then we'll consider it," Showalter said.

The number of innings Joseph catches on Monday aren't etched in stone.

"We'll play it by ear," Showalter said. "If he feels bad after five and has to come out, then he won't do it. It's just a possibility. We'll throw it out there. It could be all the way through the road trip if he doesn't feel good, but I'm going to start looking at it after Monday. If he feels good, then he'll head toward us on Tuesday."

Vance Worley will work in relief Saturday night at Double-A Bowie after throwing a bullpen session yesterday, and he's expected to be activated on Tuesday. His return could push Odrisamer Despaigne or Oliver Drake back to Triple-A Norfolk if the Orioles want to keep Ashur Tolliver as a second left-hander in the bullpen.

Worley joked that his bullpen session, consisting of around 35 pitches, was a success because "I was around the zone."

"It felt good," he said. "Just kind of see where we're at today. Going to play catch again and see how it goes out there and then we'll figure out how we're going to move forward. I really don't know what they have planned.

"Everything was doing what it was supposed to do. Not max effort, so don't know how it's going to react yet, but so far so good."

Worley's recovery from a strained groin muscle is going as anticipated. From the first day, the Orioles figured that he would be ready within 15 days despite the purple markings on his upper leg.

"I guess we'll see," he said. "I think this weather might kind of make it react different, too. But I'm looking forward to whatever we've got going on."

Update: The Rays sent eight batters to the plate and worked Yovani Gallardo for 28 pitches in the first inning while taking a 3-0 lead. Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer and Logan Morrison had an RBI single within the first four batters of the game.

Update II: Adam Jones homered off Matt Moore with one out in the sixth to reduce the Rays' lead to 3-2.

Moore retired the first 13 batters before Chris Davis doubled with one out in the fifth and scored on J.J. Hardy's two-out bloop single into right field.

Center fielder Desmond Jennings and left fielder Taylor Motter have made leaping catches at the fence to rob Manny Machado and Jones, respectively, of home runs.

Update III: The Orioles took a 5-3 lead in the sixth on Chris Davis' two-run single and Logan Forsythe's throwing error on the relay.

Update IV: Machado homered in the eighth and the bullpen turned in 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Rays, who have lost eight games in a row.

Ashur Tolliver gets his first major league win.

Zach Britton recorded his 22nd save and the Orioles improved to 42-30 overall and 28-13 at home.