J.J. Hardy isn't sure what impact youngster Manny Machaco will have on him playing shortstop for the Orioles going forward.

"Does it cross my mind? Yeah. I'm not going to lie. I was in the same situation in Milwaukee with Alcides Escobar coming up," Hardy said. "I don't know what's going to happen. He's 20 years old. He is going to be really big. He's doing a great job at third base right now, so I feel like all I need to worry about is playing shortstop as good as I can and things will take care of themselves. If I'm too old, if he is 22 years old and he's a better shortstop and has more range, well that's just the way the game works. You pick your spots, but I feel like right now all I am doing is worrying about playing the best shortstop I can and he is doing a great job at third base."

While Machado has been playing third for Baltimore since a recent promotion, they drafted him as a shortstop.

The Orioles, who have won seven of their last 10 games, will battle the Yankees in New York this weekend in a series with major playoff implications.

With a win on Thursday night, Baltimore picked up a half-game on idle New York. They are now just three games back of first place in the American League East.

The Orioles are adding Randy Wolf to their pitching staff for the stretch run.

Baltimore has focused on upgrading their staff this month. They acquired Joe Saunders in a trade with the Diamondbacks just a few days ago.

The Orioles equaled their 2011 win total of 69 in 36 fewer games this season.

Baltimore, however, has their sights set on a playoff berth.

"I don't think you're going to find anybody in that locker room who knows that unless you tell them," manager Buck Showalter said.

The Orioles are in contention for a Wild Card spot in the American League and within striking distance of first-place in the AL East.

"We're not playing to try and beat last year," Matt Wieters said.

"Last year was not the year we wanted to have this year. We wanted to have a chance for the postseason. We wanted to have a chance for the playoffs."

There are rumors that the Orioles will promote right-hander Dylan Bundy to start on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old is their top pitching prospect.

"It's going to be great. It's going to be an exciting day for me and my family and hope I can help the team win in whatever role it is," Bundy said when asked what it would be like to get promoted in the middle of a playoff race.

"Not any pressure at all, it's just the same game. Little bit better hitters. Someone told me the other day, it's the same distance between the rubber and home plate no matter where you are. Just little bit bigger stands, little bit better hitters in the box. More media, but it's all the same."

The Orioles have acquired Joe Saunders for the Diamondbacks as they look to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

In exchange, Baltimore gave up right-handed reliever Matt Lindstrom and either cash or a player to be named later.

Saunders was 6-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts with Arizona this season.

The Orioles began the day tied for the second American League wild-card spot with Oakland and in third place in the AL East, only four games behind the Yankees.

The Cubs have claimed right-handed pitcher Miguel Socolovich off waivers from the Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Iowa.

Catcher Blake Lalli was designated for assignment to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

Mark Reynolds has struggled over the course of the 2012 season, leading many to believe that he is not long for Baltimore.

However, a recent hot streak may earn him a spot in the team's plans for 2013.

The Orioles hold a team option on Reynolds' contract worth $11 million. It seems unlikely that they'll pay him that much, but they could non-tender him and re-sign him for less.

Over the last eight games, Reynolds is 11-for-29 with four doubles, four homers and 10 RBIs.

In 91 games this year, over 300 at-bats, he is hitting .220 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs.

The Orioles could soon add left-hander Brian Matusz to their bullpen. Matusz was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk on July 1 and Baltimore currently has just one lefty reliever in J.C. Romero. "I think that's something you'll probably see us do here very quickly," manager Buck Showalter said. "You look at Brian's numbers here and down below, he's been very effective against left-handers." In his major league career, right-handers are .309 against Matusz and lefties bat .223.

Manny Machado homered twice on Friday night in just his second Major League game. The 20-year-old Orioles third baseman drove in four runs as Baltimore defeated Kansas City 7-1. "It was the best feeling ever," he said. "The crowd here loves me, and for them to support me like that, after my first home run, it just felt great." The same fan ended up with both of Machado's home-run balls. Adam Corder traded the first ball for several signed baseballs and a bat. He opted to keep the second ball.