BALTIMORE - The disappointing season of Chris Davis, the Baltimore Orioles ' slugging corner infielder, grew far worse on Friday when Major League Baseball announced that he had been suspended for 25 games after he tested positive for amphetamines.
The suspension, which is for a second offense, extends into the postseason. The Orioles were scheduled to play a doubleheader against the Yankees on Friday and had 15 regular season games remaining after that, so Davis would miss at least eight postseason games, assuming the Orioles advance. Baseball's division series are best of five; the American League Championship Series is best of seven.
Davis, 28, tested positive for the stimulant Adderall, according to a person in baseball familiar with the test results. He previously held a therapeutic-use exemption that once allowed him to use it, but it ran out and he did not have clearance at the time of the testing. He is not appealing the suspension. If he had, M.L.B. would not be allowed to announce it.
The Orioles held a comfortable 10-game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the A.L. East entering Friday's games, so they are almost assured of making the playoffs.
Davis telephoned Orioles Manager Buck Showalter at about 8 p.m. Thursday to notify him about the suspension, Showalter said.
'I think it's disappointing,' Showalter said. 'I'm disappointed. I know Chris is too. It is what it is. So we're going to try to deal with it and move on. The timing is never good, but it's one of those challenges. That's why we have this in place, and we're fully supportive of. These are the things everybody knew about beforehand, and it's another way we want the fans to be able to trust a lot of things.'
A year ago, Davis hit 53 home runs, knocked in 138 runs and had 370 total bases, all highs in M.L.B. He batted .286 that year with a 1.004 on-base-plus slugging percentage. This year his numbers have declined. He has 26 home runs, 182 total bases and has struck out 173 times, the latter figure the highest in baseball. His O.P.S., so impressive last season, fell to .704 this year.
Davis is normally the Orioles' first baseman, but he recently moved to third base after a season-ending knee injury to Manny Machado.
Davis was not at Camden Yards to address the situation Friday morning.
'In my situation, you got to learn to deal with the problems and challenges along the way,' Showalter said. 'If they're self-inflicted, there's no, 'Woe is me.' And this is self-inflicted. But Chris, like he does a lot of things, you're going to see in the next day or so, attack it head on. I'm sure he'll address it. I know he called some of the players last night.'
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