Brian Roberts

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he still has not made a decision who will pitch Monday at Seattle. A lot depends on whether Zach Britton will be needed today in relief. Freddy Garcia, who is slated to pitch Sunday for Triple-A Norfolk, is the other candidate. Wilson Betemit (right knee) has progressed to exercise activities in a pool, including the underwater treadmill. He is in Sarasota, Fla. There is no set timetable for his return. Brian Roberts (hamstring) has started light jogging in Sarasota.

Top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy, who has only thrown soft toss since being shelved since March due to tightness in his right forearm/elbow, will throw Monday from 75 to 90 feet in Sarasota, Fla., according to Orioles manager Buck Showalter. He has yet to pitch in a pro game this season, but is expected to get on a mound toward the end of next week. Bundy apparently suffered forearm spasms because of the way he was placing the ball in and out of his glove - and the Orioles have worked with him to change that routine.

Right-hander Steve Johnson (lat) threw four innings and 70 pitches in Fort Myers, Fla., as part of an extended spring game. Assuming he feels good during a side session this weekend, Johnson will make his 2013 pro debut next week in Charlotte for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, the club anticipates. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Johnson, a St. Paul's graduate who was 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA for the Orioles last year, will start in his first outing of this season. Tsuyoshi Wada (elbow)

Orioles designated hitter Steve Pearce entered Thursday night hitless in his first 13 at-bats this season. Certainly, it's not the way the 30-year-old wanted to start the year, but it is not without explanation. Pearce has made five starts in 2013 - two against reigning American League Cy Young Award winner David Price (including Thursday), one against former Cy Young winner CC Sabathia , one against current AL ERA leader Clay Buchholz and one against Minnesota lefty Pedro Hernandez . Not an easy group to begin a season.

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, who is on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain, is walking without a limp but has yet to resume baseball activities. Roberts needed to be carried off the field after a stolen base April 4 at Tampa Bay, and he went on the DL the next day. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it would be a reach to think Roberts will be ready to return when he's first eligible to be activated on April 20. “It's going to be a challenge for him,” Showalter said.

  Every Monday, Baltimore Sun blogger and reporter Matt Vensel will rank the most significant athletes and events in Baltimore sports that week based on accomplishments on and off the field. Because, well, why not? The return of the Orioles was the big story this week, overshadowing the release of Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, Maryland's loss in the NIT semifinals and a rift amongst the sons of a local legend. The Orioles went 3-3 in their first six games of 2013, but it was a fun first week thanks to one Orioles slugger.

Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez probably delivered the sharpest outing during the first spin through the Orioles starting rotation, but he will not pitch in the three-game series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. His regular turn would have come Tuesday, which is an off day after Boston's home opener Monday. So he'll be skipped initially and pitch at some point in the New York series next weekend. "We're going to have 20-something games in a row and we've got an opportunity here that's not going to come very often," Showalter said.

The Orioles have listed their probables for the Boston series and Miguel Gonzalez is not on the list. We'll ask Buck Showalter after the game today as to why he is skipping Gonzalez - or pushing him back to the Yankees series. Wilson Betemit was in the clubhouse on crutches today. He said he is relieved that arthroscopic surgery did not show any further damage in his right knee. He will head to Sarasota, Fla., Wednesday to begin rehab. He said he expects to be evaluated in about a month to get a better idea of when he can return.

Watching from the dugout as Brian Roberts clutched the back of his right knee Thursday, Ryan Flaherty knew an injury to the Orioles' starting second baseman could create an opportunity for him. But Flaherty's first feeling was concern for Roberts, a veteran teammate whom he says gave him invaluable advice as Flaherty manned second base for the Orioles in the playoffs last fall. “It was tough to watch that, especially to have it happen to a player like him. He helped me tremendously last year playing second,” Flaherty said Saturday.

It's here -- the day Baltimore baseball fans have been awaiting since Game 5 of last year's AL Division Series loss to the Yankees. Riding the momentum of a series win in Tampa Bay, the Orioles will play their home opener this afternoon against the Twins here at Camden Yards. There's a special energy in the air today. Talking to players in the clubhouse the past few days, they've been eagerly awaiting this day as well. Regardless of expectations, it's always a special day for players as they run down the orange carpet for pregame introductions. But coming off last year's resurgence, they anticipate an energy today that will duplicate last year's postseason games at Camden Yards.