masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgTonight’s lineup doesn’t include Luke Scott, but his groin injury has improved enough that he’s available to pinch-hit if needed.

Scott hasn’t played since leaving Saturday night’s game for a pinch-runner.

“Luke feels a lot better today,” Showalter said. “I feel like he’s getting close. I could probably use him to pinch-hit tonight. It’s something I didn’t feel real comfortable with the day before yesterday. He’s gone out and run some with Richie (Bancells). Came in yesterday for…Tonight’s lineup doesn’t include Luke Scott, but his groin injury has improved enough that he’s available to pinch-hit if needed.

Scott hasn’t played since leaving Saturday night’s game for a pinch-runner.

“Luke feels a lot better today,” Showalter said. “I feel like he’s getting close. I could probably use him to pinch-hit tonight. It’s something I didn’t feel real comfortable with the day before yesterday. He’s gone out and run some with Richie (Bancells). Came in yesterday for treatment.”

Scott remains fairly confident that he can avoid the disabled list.

“The only thing I can say is, digging into soft tissue, it was a lot looser. It wasn’t knotted up, so that’s a plus,” Scott said.

“Probably a 95 percent chance that I’ll (be ready) tomorrow. My hope, the way I’m feeling right now, it feels pretty good. But for the last two days I haven’t done anything. I’ve been sitting. No running, nothing.”

Update: Scott said he’s more encouraged that he’ll return to the lineup tomorrow night after taking batting practice, running and doing side-to-side movements earlier today. He said the injury is “much improved.”

Luke Scott updates the status of his groin injury before pregame stretches Wednesday

Also, Brian Matusz returned to Philadelphia yesterday to have another small spot removed from his left index finger. He underwent a laser procedure in spring training to remove a wart on the finger. Yesterday’s procedure was done more as a precaution, and only because he’s on the disabled list and really has nothing else to do. May as well get the finger checked again.

“They took just a tad more off. There was still a little dot there,” Showalter said.