Nick Markakis still has two pins in his left thumb. (US Presswire)

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis will have two pins in his left thumb for at least another week, putting his availability for the postseason in doubt. Markakis hasn't played since Sept. 8 after suffering a broken left thumb and was hoping to get the pins removed on Monday.

Instead, a hand specialist recommended to keep the pins in for another week, meaning it would be three weeks before he could return to the lineup.

"It was just crushed too bad in there and I had a lot of pieces here and there," Markakis told the Baltimore Sun. "Probably on a clean break, they've probably come out today, but my situation is a little different.

"They want to keep it in another week and it would probably be in a splint for a week or two after that, so I'm probably still a good three weeks away at minimum.

Three weeks puts his return at Oct. 22, the day after Game Seven of the American League Championship Series.

Markakis is hitting .298/.363/.471 with 13 home runs this season, hitting .335/.390/.489 after the All-Star break.

Markakis was hit in the thumb by the Yankees' CC Sabathia in the Orioles victory on Sept. 8.

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