Rehab

The Orioles are stuck with a struggling Pedro Strop for now. He is too much of a mess right now to be trusted in high-leverage relief situations. But he is also too talented, he throws too hard for them to slip him by 29 other teams if they tried to send him down to the minor leagues. The reality is, though, the Orioles missed on an opportunity to help Strop out, to keep him away from situations like the one he came into Wednesday, when he quickly allowed four runs and an Orioles victory to slip away.

Right-hander Jake Arrieta spoke to the media Saturday for the first time since returning to the Orioles from Triple-A Norfolk. Arrieta, who was called up Friday to bolster a thin bullpen after the Orioles' 13-inning win on Thursday night, has struggled this year in appearances split between the Orioles and Triple-A. “I just want to have success again in the big leagues,” Arrieta said. “If that's as a starter or as a reliever, it doesn't matter to me. I just want to get back into throwing the ball well and contributing any way to this team winning ballgames.

When the Orioles travel to Detroit to begin a six-game road trip Monday, second baseman Brian Roberts will be with the team, and the club is optimistic he can start a minor league rehabilitation assignment upon the return from the trip. Roberts, however, wouldn't put a timetable on when a rehab assignment would begin and said Saturday that he still needed to work through some things before live-game action. "I can't go play yet," Roberts said. "I still have some progressions to get through, especially running.

When the Orioles travel to Detroit to begin a six-game road trip Monday, second baseman Brian Roberts will be with the team, and the club is optimistic he can start a minor league rehabilitation assignment upon the return from the trip. Roberts, however, wouldn't put a timetable on when a rehab assignment would begin and said Saturday that he still needed to work through some things before live-game action. "I can't go play yet," Roberts said. "I still have some progressions to get through, especially running.

Right-hander Dylan Bundy, the Orioles' top prospect, will continue the progression in his throwing program as he returns from right forearm and elbow stiffness that has sidelined him this spring. Bundy is scheduled to do two sessions of 25 throws from 90 feet on flat ground Monday at the Orioles' spring training facility in Sarasota, Fla. Bundy hasn't appeared in a regular season game at any level this spring. Last year, Bundy was 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 23 starts during time at Low-A Delmarva, High-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie.

Second baseman Brian Roberts, who has been on the disabled list since injuring his right hamstring in the third game of the season, traveled back with the club from Florida on Sunday night and was in the clubhouse Monday. “It's great to be back, certainly,” said Roberts, who had hamstring surgery May 9. “You feel kind of like you're isolated on an island [in Sarasota]. It's always good to be around the guys, to feel like you're part of a team.” Roberts, who was with the club during the three games against Tampa, said he still doesn't have an exact timetable for his return, “but I think we're in the homestretch.” He is expected to go onto a brief rehab assignment - probably between two games and a week - once he has completely built up his running progression and can stop, start and pivot when necessary.

In his sixth rehabilitation start for Triple-A Norfolk, left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks at Indianapolis. Wada struck out two batters and allowed a grand slam to Brett Carroll in the first inning. He's allowed at least three runs in five of his six rehab starts and has an 8.14 ERA with the Tides. Wada, 32, had Tommy John surgery last May. He signed a two-year, $8.15 million contract with the Orioles before the 2012 season but has never thrown a pitch for the Orioles.

Tsuyoshi Wada, who was on the disabled list attempting to rebound from some left elbow soreness which limited his spring, has had his rehab assignment shut down. He will return to Baltimore to meet with doctors and there is no timetable for his return to a game. Wada allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings Thursday in his first rehab game for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. Afterward he admitted he had been dealing with neck stiffness after sleeping poorly at a hotel. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he wasn't sure if the neck problem was associated with the poor outing, but that the club was considering suspending Wada's rehab assignment.

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Brian Roberts will begin his rehab assignment Wednesday night at Double-A Bowie against Richmond. The Orioles made the announcement a few minutes ago. Roberts (concussion symptoms) has not played since May 16, 2011, against the Boston Red Sox. He likely will play only a few innings Wednesday. He is expected to speak with reporters at 7 p.m. tonight.

Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold, limited to 31 games this season by a right hamstring strain, is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday. Reimold is scheduled to play every day for Bowie, but he will switch between outfield and designated hitter duties each day. The 29-year-old Reimold, who went on the disabled list May 18, won't return to the major league club until the Orioles are convinced he is 100 percent, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Thursday.

The Orioles are stuck with a struggling Pedro Strop for now. He is too much of a mess right now to be trusted in high-leverage relief situations. But he is also too talented, he throws too hard for them to slip him by 29 other teams if they tried to send him down to the minor leagues. The reality is, though, the Orioles missed on an opportunity to help Strop out, to keep him away from situations like the one he came into Wednesday, when he quickly allowed four runs and an Orioles victory to slip away.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided the following updates during his pre-game session: Nolan Reimold (hamstring) has progressed to the point that he should be able to go on a minor league rehab assignment when the Orioles head on the road June 17. The Bowie Baysox are home from June 18 to 23, so that would be a possibility. Wei-Yin Chen (oblique) had his throwing session from a half mound in Sarasota, Fla., on Thursday. He'll throw from a full mound Saturday. If that goes well, he'll go with the Orioles on the road to continue his rehab.

In his sixth rehabilitation start for Triple-A Norfolk, left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks at Indianapolis. Wada struck out two batters and allowed a grand slam to Brett Carroll in the first inning. He's allowed at least three runs in five of his six rehab starts and has an 8.14 ERA with the Tides. Wada, 32, had Tommy John surgery last May. He signed a two-year, $8.15 million contract with the Orioles before the 2012 season but has never thrown a pitch for the Orioles.

Second baseman Brian Roberts, who has been on the disabled list since injuring his right hamstring in the third game of the season, traveled back with the club from Florida on Sunday night and was in the clubhouse Monday. “It's great to be back, certainly,” said Roberts, who had hamstring surgery May 9. “You feel kind of like you're isolated on an island [in Sarasota]. It's always good to be around the guys, to feel like you're part of a team.” Roberts, who was with the club during the three games against Tampa, said he still doesn't have an exact timetable for his return, “but I think we're in the homestretch.” He is expected to go onto a brief rehab assignment - probably between two games and a week - once he has completely built up his running progression and can stop, start and pivot when necessary.

Erika Brannock, the Towson-area pre-school teacher who had part of her leg amputated as a result of injuries received during the Boston Marathon bombings, is scheduled to be released from the hospital Monday. She will return to the Baltimore area, where she will enter a rehabilitation center, a family spokesperson confirmed Sunday. Brannock and her sister, Nicole Gross, were injured in the April 15 bombings. Brannock suffered injuries that resulted in her losing her lower left leg, while Gross suffered two broken legs and a severed Achilles tendon.

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts will begin an injury-rehab assignment tonight in Aberdeen -- Baltimore's short season Single-A affiliate -- as first reported by MASNsports.com. Roberts has been on the disabled list since July 3 with a labral tear in his right hip, and has been trying to avoid season-ending surgery. Roberts missed time earlier in the year with concussion symptoms, but hit only .182 in his 17 games with the club before injuring his hip. He hasn't played in a game since July 1. He is expected to start at second base tonight for the IronBirds, but it's unclear whether or not he is ready to play in an entire game yet. If Roberts' rehab stint doesn't go according to plan, he is facing surgery that generally carries a 4-6 week recovery time, effectively ending his season.

Left-hander Zach Britton took another step toward rejoining the Orioles starting rotation Thursday night, throwing seven strong innings for Double-A Bowie in a 3-2, 14-inning loss at Akron. Britton, making his second minor league rehab start for the Baysox, allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits through seven innings, striking out five and walking one. Britton threw 92 pitches, 55 of them for strikes, and induced 12 groundouts versus just four fly-ball outs. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that Britton, who is rehabbing from left shoulder impingement, will be re-evaluated after Thursday's start.

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