It looks like it's Davis at third and Pearce at first after latest news on Machado

Here are some stats to keep in mind: The Orioles are playing .573 ball (47-35) this season when Manny Machado starts at third base and they are playing .591 ball (26-18) when someone else has started there this year.

The news today that Machado is headed for another knee surgery and his season is likely over does not mean the Orioles cannot win, and does not mean they cannot do well in the postseason.

The Orioles can overcome this injury. In fact they have no choice.

Yahoo! Sports reported earlier today that Machado will have right knee surgery at some point within the next week. The Orioles had been hopeful that Machado could return this year and everyone seemed initially upbeat about Machado's chance to recover from this injury which took place in the Aug. 11 game against the Yankees at Camden Yards.

There is no reason to panic and, in my opinion, no reason to rush into an ill-advised trade, if there even is a player available to the Orioles since the non-waiver deadline has come and gone.

For now, it looks like the best play is to continue to start Chris Davis at third base with Steve Pearce at first. Pearce is comfortable around the bag and Davis clearly is at third, a position he played more than first base in the minors.

No one can replace Machado defensively; we know that. But Davis has been solid at third and the Orioles are 6-2 in his starts there. We just know he is not likely to range well into foul territory and make an off balance cannon throw to first base.

In recent days, we had hints that some bad news could be coming. On MASN, Gary Thorne mentioned the possibility that it was not a sure thing that Machado would return. Today, Buck Showalter told reporters in Chicago he would have more to say on Machado on Saturday. It sounded like he had some more definitive news to announce. The Yahoo! report beat him to that one.

The Orioles have gotten this far due to a greatly improved starting pitching staff, a stellar bullpen, a top-notch defense and a homer-happy offense. There is no need to change the script now.

They have played .591 ball without Machado this year. The kid is a big part of their future. But for the present, they go on without him.

Will the winning continue? I say it will.