When Baltimore Orioles' third baseman Manny Machado injured his knee on August 11th, the organization left open the possibility that their young star could return when his stint on the Disabled List was up.
However, reports surfaced after the Orioles' 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday that Machado will have knee surgery in the next few days and miss the remainder of the season. It will mark the second consecutive season that the Orioles are without Machado for the stretch run.
Last year, Machado suffered a gruesome leg injury while running to first base. That came after he won the AL Gold-Glove Award and led the league in doubles in his first full year in the big leagues.
In 2014, Machado was batting .278 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs before the injury.
His bat and especially his glove will undoubtedly be missed in the near future, but considering that the Orioles possess a commanding 8.5 game lead in the AL East, it is very likely that they make it back to the playoffs. However, Baltimore's chances of making it to the World Series would be much higher if the team had Machado in uniform.