Machado latest Oriole bitten by flu bug

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't make it to Yankee Stadium this afternoon. Third baseman Manny Machado is on his way and will be examined by a doctor, felled by the same stomach virus that's delivering knockout punches. First baseman Chris Davis took batting practice and ground balls to gauge whether he could be used later in tonight's game.

Bench coach John Russell, filling in for Showalter, is fortunate that he's only got a small scrape on the bridge of his nose. He's the lucky one.

Machado began to feel ill yesterday and it got progressively worse, leading him today to contact head athletic trainer Richie Bancells, who should wear a surgical mask as part of his attire.

"He's coming tonight, emergency-only probably, but the doctor will give him a look and see what's going on with him," Russell said. "Whatever's been going around, you don't want it. Buck's been texting back and forth with me a little bit when he's able to not be in the bathroom. It's a tough one. It's a pretty good virus that's hitting some of our guys and it's knocking them out."

The bench is down to a healthy Julio Borbon and lots of uncertainty.

"Matty Wieters can be used in an emergency, but it's tough," Russell said, referring to the catcher's injured right foot. "Chris is starting to get some of his energy back. I would think later in the game if we had to have him, Chris might be available.

"You've got to do what you've got to do. The players see it, and they know what's going on. They know how important it is that we go out and get something going early and play the game efficiently because we don't have a lot of moves we can make. But it's part of the game. We're not the only team that's ever had a virus going around and had a string of injuries for a few days.

"Buck and I talked about it. It's not Manny, it's not Chris Davis, but the guys who go out there occasionally like Joey (Rickard) and Nolan (Reimold) and (Ryan) Flaherty, they do a good job for us. These are the opportunities they get to go play and for the most part all year they've taken advantage of it."

Russell has been able to avoid the virus. He'd knock on wood, but then immediately clean his hands.

"Yeah, a lot of sanitizer. They passed it out in the clubhouse today," he said. "So far, so good. Knock on wood. But again, it sounds like it's something you don't want to get, so I hope I don't get it."

How bad must it be in order to keep Showalter away from the stadium?

"Pretty bad," Russell said. "He texted me. Not to make a pun of it or fun of it, but it's gut-wrenching. It's tough. And for him to not be able to come here ...

"In the back of my mind I still think I'll see him walk through at some point, but the last time I talked to him, he's pretty rough. For him and with a day game tomorrow, I think it'll be good for him to just relax and stay home."

Hyun Soo Kim, on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, will stay with the Orioles instead of reporting to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota.

Orioles minor league pitcher Wally Vrolijk has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Methylhexanamine, a stimulant, in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Vrolijk is currently on the roster of the club's Dominican Summer League team.

The Yankees changed their lineup. Here's the new one:

Brett Garner LF
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Carlos Beltran DH
Brian McCann C
Mark Teixeira 1B
Didi Gregorius SS
Starlin Castro 2B
Aaron Hicks RF
Ronald Torreyes 3B

Michael Pineda RHP