Orioles eager for Machado's return after tonight (O's win 7-2)

The Orioles are down to their last game tonight without third baseman Manny Machado, whose suspension ends after the final out. The roster goes back to 25 players. A team feels whole again.

The Orioles made another move today by placing Brian Duensing on the 15-day disabled list and recalling Ashur Tolliver from Triple-A Norfolk. They recalled Oliver Drake yesterday and outrighted infielder Paul Janish. Each day has led to another adjustment, whether the Orioles are comfortable with a shorter bullpen or one less infielder.

The ultimate work in progress.

"We'll see what tomorrow brings. We'll shuffle again," said manager Buck Showalter, whose club is 1-2 without Machado going into tonight's game against the Padres.

"Until we get through this 25, 24, just trying to take each day, play it and then see where you are at the end of the day and make the adjustments. Last night, John (Russell) and I talked a lot about different scenarios - who would play what position and how we would do that. Matt (Wieters) gets hurt here, who's going to catch? You have to think about it every time you make a move."

Another example came last night in the eighth inning when Showalter resisted pinch-running for J.J. Hardy at second base as the potential tying run or pinch-hitting for Ryan Flaherty against a left-handed reliever.

"You could have pinch-run for somebody, pinch-hit for somebody, you're going to have to play defense," Showalter said. "Go extra innings. Even manage a game differently because you don't want to play extra innings. You may take a chance with something that may give you the lead to stay away from the tie, because a tie game is going to hurt you for a long time."

Duensing will miss an extended period after undergoing surgery Friday to remove two fragments from his left elbow.

"One larger than the other," said Showalter, who saw the MRI yesterday.

"Even I can see what the issue is," Showalter said.

Ravens orthopedist Dr. Leigh Ann Curl will perform the surgery in Baltimore.

Duensing felt pain in the elbow Monday night from a seated position in the visiting bullpen in Arlington, Texas. He tried to push himself upward and the elbow flared up.

Showalter learned of the injury from bullpen coach Dom Chiti, who tried to explain the situation.

"That was a lot of fun," Showalter said. "We were kind of short in pitching and get a call. That's why all those things about being careful about telling truths that hurt innocent people. There are so many things you wear after a game that you can't talk about. You aren't dishonest about it. You just don't bring it up until one of you all do, and then I have to tell you.

"We knew it was going to be a DL when we left Texas. We were trying to hold it to best use it because it kept those guys in that 10-day window if we wanted to go there. I'm not trying to lessen the injury, but of all the ones of the elbow, he's got a chance to be with us in August if they find everything they think they're going to find there."

The Orioles chose Tolliver over a few other candidates, including Mike Wright.

"Rested, ready to pitch, doing OK down there," Showalter said. "We had some options. Length, been up here before, done OK. I could go through all the options we had and critique him versus them.

"We ended up late last night knowing we needed a pitcher. The thought was whether or not we needed two or not. With the off-day tomorrow we're going to try to get through tonight."

Wright is starting tonight at Norfolk.

"Mike needs to pitch down there," Showalter said. "I don't want to be yo-yoing him back and forth and thinking this and that just because of our needs. We could have taken him and put him in the bullpen or started him. Plus, that late in the game, get up today and travel. I think he needs to pitch down there and knows he needs to pitch better. He pitches better, he'll get another opportunity.

"We had some options. We were looking in Bowie, too. A couple guys available there. The problem sometimes is you take a guy who's non-roster and put him on, knowing that (Vance) Worley and (Darren) O'Day and these guys are going to be back, and then you send them back out, you lose them. There are a lot of variables involved.

"I think Worley's going to make the 28th or very close after."

Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com tweeted that the Orioles are interested in left-hander Francisco Liriano, but the Pirates are trying to compete for a playoff berth, indicating that they're more inclined to hold onto him.

A left-handed starter would be a nice addition to a rotation that's gone without one all season. The Orioles will be interested in anyone who can get them into the later innings with a chance to win.

Update: The Padres took a 1-0 lead three batters into the game on singles by Travis Jankowski and Matt Kemp. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed two hits, walked a batter and struck out one. He threw 21 pitches.

Update II: Mark Trumbo led off the second inning with his 21st home run and his first since June 7.

Update III: Adam Jones scored all the way from first base on Jonathan Schoop's two-out double to left-center field in the third inning. Orioles 2, Padres 1

Schoop has 11 hits in his last 20 at-bats. He's collected at least one hit in 17 of 21 games this month.

Great baserunning by both players to break the tie, and an aggressive send by third base coach Bobby Dickerson.

Update IV: Mark Trumbo doubled in the fourth inning and scored on Matt Wieters' single to increase the lead to 3-1.

Update V: The Jankowski-Kemp combo strikes again in the fifth. Orioles 3, Padres 2

Update VI: The Orioles scored three runs in the fifth and got rid of Padres starter Erik Johnson while expanding their lead to 6-2.

Ryan Flaherty led off with his third home run of the season. The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs. Chris Davis was hit by a pitch and Wieters had a sacrifice fly.

Update VII: Flaherty reached on an error in the sixth and later scored on Hyun Soo Kim's second hit of the night to increase the lead to 7-2.

Jimenez allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, with four walks and seven strikeouts. He threw 104 pitches, 64 for strikes.

Update VIII: The Orioles got back in the win column and split their two-game series by defeating the Padres 7-2.

Brad Brach retired all six batters he faced and Zach Britton struck out two and stranded two after throwing 23 pitches last night.

Trumbo came within a triple of the cycle.

The Orioles are 41-30 overall and 27-13 at home.