masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles will play today and for several days without first baseman Chris Davis, now that he has gone on the disabled list.

The team has need a next-man-up philosophy this year, playing without Manny Machado to this point, with J.J. Hardy also missing some games.

“We are still going to be a good team,” catcher Steve Clevenger said. “He’s our clean-up hitter, but I think we’ll be all right until he gets back in the lineup.

“We are playing well at one game over .500 and we are still…The Orioles will play today and for several days without first baseman Chris Davis, now that he has gone on the disabled list.

The team has need a next-man-up philosophy this year, playing without Manny Machado to this point, with J.J. Hardy also missing some games.

“We are still going to be a good team,” catcher Steve Clevenger said. “He’s our clean-up hitter, but I think we’ll be all right until he gets back in the lineup.

“We are playing well at one game over .500 and we are still missing some pieces of our lineup. That just shows you the kind of depth we have on this team.”

David Lough is batting ninth and playing left field today. For the 28-year-old Oriole, this is not just another series. He was traded from Kansas City in December.

He’s playing against players he knows well. The Royals drafted him in the 11th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, and he spent seven seasons playing in their organization. He hit .286 in 96 games with Kansas City last season.

“It’s still a competition and that’s the enemy now,” Lough said. “But seeing all those guys again, it’s good to catch up. I have nothing but praise for that organization. They do everything the right way. I have a lot of relationships over there coming up through that system.”

Meanwhile, Jemile Weeks is back atop the Orioles’ batting order today after going 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored last night.

Weeks’ speed was on display on that triple. He stole 22 bases for Oakland in 2011. Does he have the green light to steal anytime here?

“I believe I’ll have the green light quite a bit,” he said. “But there could be times they shut me down. You have to be smart too. You have big hitters in the lineup. You want to have opportunities for these guys to get fastballs.

“This is a lineup I wanted to be a part of. I knew what this lineup would like look before the season started. I always felt like if I could jump in there and do my part, I could help. Hopefully it shows.”

One thing Weeks can bring to this club is on-base percentage. He had an on-base percentage of .376 at Triple-A last season and .451 in 17 games at Triple-A Norfolk this year. He walked 16 times in 17 games with the Tides.

What is the key for him in being patient and drawing walks?

“For me, it is just locking in and trusting my hands and eyes rather than going up there and trying to do too much with the bat,” he said. “Once you trust those things, the bat follows what your eyes and hands see and feel. That is what I try to focus on.”