masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgSARASOTA, Fla. – Nick Markakis isn’t in the lineup again today, which comes as no surprise, and he told a couple of reporters this morning that he will “probably rule out tomorrow.”

Markakis was scratched from Sunday’s lineup because of stiffness in his neck.

The Orioles are home again on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. They have back-to-back road night games Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and Saturday against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers.

Most of the…SARASOTA, Fla. – Nick Markakis isn’t in the lineup again today, which comes as no surprise, and he told a couple of reporters this morning that he will “probably rule out tomorrow.”

Markakis was scratched from Sunday’s lineup because of stiffness in his neck.

The Orioles are home again on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. They have back-to-back road night games Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and Saturday against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers.

Most of the regulars have been staying back in camp for road games, but it’s possible that Markakis will make the short trip to Bradenton. Otherwise, we’re looking at Sunday afternoon against the Pirates in Sarasota.

“It’s better,” Markakis said. “I’m close. A couple days, probably, and I’ll try to get back in the swing of things.

“If I am able to go tomorrow, it will probably be light stuff, kind of getting back into it. But overall, I’m feeling a lot better than what I did a couple days ago, so that’s a good thing.”

Markakis would play if it were the regular season.

“We’ve still got three weeks,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of time left. No rush.”

Dylan Bundy threw all fastballs during yesterday’s bullpen session as part of his biomechanical analysis. He has a more routine session scheduled for Thursday and said he’s fine physically. The groin spasms are gone.

Catcher Luis Martinez, sidelined since early in camp with a strained left oblique, has hit off a tee and soft toss the last few days. He will do the same today and could take live batting practice on Thursday.

“Everything seems to be going in the right direction,” Martinez said.