masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgBrian Roberts isn’t expected to come off the disabled list during this homestand. The Orioles are deciding whether to let him play in Toronto or Kansas City.

“Brian Roberts has stated that he wishes to come with us on the road trip, so we’ll see what the medical people say and when they turn it over to the baseball people and see what the decision’s going to be,” interim manager Juan Samuel said. “For me, the ideal place for him is Kansas City. I don’t know if we want him coming back…Brian Roberts isn’t expected to come off the disabled list during this homestand. The Orioles are deciding whether to let him play in Toronto or Kansas City.

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“Brian Roberts has stated that he wishes to come with us on the road trip, so we’ll see what the medical people say and when they turn it over to the baseball people and see what the decision’s going to be,” interim manager Juan Samuel said. “For me, the ideal place for him is Kansas City. I don’t know if we want him coming back from his rehab with the kind of injury he had playing on Astroturf, so we have to be smart. We don’t want to see him have a major setback. I’m sure he’s going to push his way into playing in Toronto, so we have to be smart about this.”

Kevin Millwood will start on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, so Brad Bergesen remains in the rotation and will take the ball tomorrow night against the Rays. Jeremy Guthrie is pushed back to Friday and Brian Matusz to Saturday.

The Orioles haven’t decided how they’ll make room for Millwood in the rotation. They’re not saying it, but Bergesen can’t afford another poor outing tomorrow.

Bergesen could apply pressure on Chris Tillman with a solid start tomorrow.

“These things could change on a daily basis,” Samuel said. “It all depends on how these games go, who we use, who we will not use, how long our starters are going to go. The last couple days have been kind of rough, using our bullpen a lot. We’re trying to make a decision which way we go, whether a pitcher or position player, when all these guys come back.”

Still no talk of a six-man rotation. Samuel is asked about it on a daily basis.

Asked about the importance of Bergesen’s start tomorrow night, Samuel said, “We’re not really putting it on him. Obviously, if those guys do the job, it makes it easy for us to make a decision. But we’re not really waiting to see if he will perform well or how he does. Hopefully, he will do a good job for us. We need our starters to go longer.”

Samuel said he hasn’t heard any talk of a pending trade that could eliminate a starter.

Michael Gonzalez also is expected to be activated on Thursday. He’ll initially be used in “non-pressure situations,” according to Samuel.

Matt Wieters won’t need an injury rehab assignment before coming off the DL.

Corey Patterson is available tonight and expects to be in the lineup tomorrow night.