TORONTO — Manny Machado knew he'd likely face a significant suspension for charging the mound and throwing a punch at Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura on Tuesday, and now the Orioles will have to prepare for life without the All-Star shortstop.

Machado was suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount for “charging the mound and fighting” after Major League Baseball, which reviewed the umpires' reports and video footage of the incident, reached its decision Thursday. USA Today reported that Machado's fine was $2,500.

Machado, among the front-runners for American League Most Valuable Player, is appealing the suspension, and was in the starting lineup for Thursday's series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Machado will be able to play during the appeal process.

Machado charged the mound in the fifth inning of a 9-1 win Tuesday over the Royals after he was hit in the back by a first-pitch, 99-mph fastball from Ventura. The two had exchanged words after Machado's previous at-bat.

“I've already talked to Manny about it,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “We had an idea of what it was going to be, and he'll handle it well. His teammates, more importantly, are looking forward to picking up the slack when it happens, whenever we go without him. ... The biggest thing is making sure it's fair.”

Ventura, who has a growing list of on-field altercations, was suspended nine games for “intentionally throwing at Machado and fighting.” He also appealed.

Players suspended for on-field altercations are not docked pay while serving their suspensions.

“Obviously, I'm appealing it, and we'll see what happens,” Machado said. “They came up with a decision, and obviously, that's why we're going to appeal.”

The four-game suspension is on par with most similar incidents. Since 2000, suspensions for charging the mound typically have ranged from three to eight games. Four games was the most common penalty.

“It's obviously going to [stink] that I'm going to be out,” Machado said. “We're going to be down a guy with only 24 on the roster. It's going to be tough. I know I'm going to deal with the consequences, and I have faith in my teammates that they're going to come up and help me out and step up and do what they have to do to keep winning some games and keep doing what they have to do.”

A date for Machado's appeal hearing — which will be heard by John McHale Jr., the special assistant to the commissioner — has not been set. When Machado was suspended five games for throwing his bat against the Oakland Athletics two years ago, his punishment was issued two days after the incident. Machado appealed, a process that took about three weeks, before the suspension was upheld.

“There's a process in place for all of this,” Showalter said. “It will end up being as fair as possible, I have confidence in [that]. Just kind of tough when you have to play short because of something that someone else kind of got going. But we'll see. I know they've put a lot of time and thought into it.”

When Machado — who played in his 221st consecutive game Thursday, the longest active streak in the majors — serves his suspension, the Orioles will be short a player on their 25-man roster.

“This is what makes a team,” Machado said. “In tough situations, people have got to step up and do what they have to do. And I think we have a great group, and that's what they know how to do around here. Everybody is going to have to step up and do what they need to, the part they need to.”

The Orioles are now without Gold Glove shortstop J.J. Hardy, who is rehabilitating a foot injury in Sarasota, Fla., as well as setup man Darren O'Day, right-handed starter Yovani Gallardo and catcher Caleb Joseph, who are on the disabled list.

“Manny is a big part of our team and it's always going to be tough,” catcher Matt Wieters said. “We're going to miss him on both sides of the ball. But at the same time, we've always taken pride in that it doesn't mean we have to miss a beat. The other guys step up. You can win baseball games many ways, and we'll just have to find different ways to win ballgames.”

Previous transgressions are taken into account when deciding on punishment. If the league office has notified a player about particular incidents or behavior that continue to be a problem, it can be factored into the disciplinary process.

Machado was hit on the first pitch of his fifth-inning at-bat Tuesday, then charged the mound and threw a punch at Ventura, prompting both dugouts and bullpens to empty as the two tussled on the ground. That Machado threw a punch was a factor in the suspension. Punches and other aggressive actions intended to hurt a player are considered serious violations by the league office.

Tuesday's incident wasn't the first time Machado was a target of a beaning. In September, Washington Nationals pitcher Jonathan Papelbon was suspended three games for “intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area” of Machado.

Ventura received a seven-game suspension last season after a string of incidents during three straight starts in April. He later hit Machado and first baseman Chris Davis with pitches during a Sept. 12 game at Camden Yards.

Because he is a starting pitcher, Ventura's suspension has less impact. He could miss just one start, but Showalter steered away from criticizing the process.

“That's MLB's business, Kansas City's business,” Showalter said. “We're through playing them so far this year unless we both get into the playoffs, so I think enough has been said about it, and they don't need me weighing in on it. We'll see what the finished product is.

“I know that playing [a man down] in the big leagues is a lot of punishment. It's punishment enough in a lot of ways. But they're trying to do things to try to get people to police their own to prevent stuff from happening.”

eencina@baltsun.com

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